Audi announced today that it will hold the public debut of the Audi TT RS at the 2009 Leipzig Motor Show, which opens later this week. The 2010 Audi TT RS coupe made its public debut earlier this month at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.

Also on hand will be 20 other production Audi models including the Audi A5 and S5 Cabriolets, Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI quattro and the Audi A4 allroad quattro.

Refresher: Power for the 2010 Audi TT RS comes from a 2.5L turbocharged direct-injection engine making 340-hp with a maximum torque of 332 lb-ft. 0 to 62 mph comes in just 4.7 seconds with a top-speed electronically-limited to 174 mph.

Click through for the press release and the high-res image gallery.

2010 Audi TT RS:

Press Release:

Audi at AMI Leipzig: exhibit to include world premieres

- Audi shows the Audi TT RS Roadster for the first time

- German premieres for the Audi A4 allroad quattro, Audi A5 Cabriolet, S5 Cabriolet and Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro

- Show cars: Audi A1 Sportback concept and Audi A4 TDI concept e

Visitors to AMI Leipzig 2009 will witness the world premiere of the Audi TT RS Roadster at the Audi exhibition stand at the Leipzig Motor Show, Hall 1. From March 28 to April 5, visitors will be able to view a total of 20 production models, two show cars and two historic cars at the roughly 2,100 square meter (22,604.21 square feet) exhibition stand. The spotlight will also be on the German premieres of the new Audi A4 allroad quattro, the Audi A5 and S5 Cabriolets and the Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro.

Audi is forging a link with its 5-cylinder tradition with the Audi TT RS Roadster and TT RS Coupé. Customers will begin taking delivery of the sports car this summer. The 2.5-liter engine with turbocharging and direct fuel injection generates 340 hp (250 kW) and accelerates the sports car from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 4.7 seconds ““ with average fuel consumption of just 9.5 liters (24.76 mpg). The permanent all-wheel drive quattro, a suspension fine-tuned to match the powerful engine, and high-performance brakes make the car a star in its class. With its light Audi Space Frame (ASF) car body, constructed primarily from aluminum, the TT RS is a road machine through and through.

With its greater ground clearance, the fun with the Audi A4 allroad quattro really begins where the asphalt ends. The youngest member of the A4 family features innovative technology ““ including its powerful, highly efficient engines and Audi drive select, the new driving dynamics system.

The Audi A4 allroad quattro 2.0 TDI with 170 hp (125 kW), consumes an average of just 6.4 liters per 100 kilometers (36.75 mpg). Customers looking to get the most powerful engine should order the A4 allroad quattro featuring a V6 TDI with 240 hp (176 kW).

Dynamic, self-assured and picture perfect ““ that describes the new Audi A5 Cabriolet. The new A5 Cabriolet features the soft top Audi is known for. It can open in just 15 seconds at speeds up to 50 km/h (31.07 mph). The A5 Cabriolet rolls up to the starting line with three gasoline engines and two diesel engines. The range of performance starts at 170 hp (125 kW) in the 2.0 TDI and tops out at 265 hp (195 kW) in the 3.2 FSI. The A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TDI will be arriving on the scene later. The top model for the new model line is the Audi S5 Cabriolet. The letter S traditionally stands for confident sportiness, for dynamics, performance and power, and for amazing efficiency. The Audi S5 Cabriolet is powered by a newly developed, turbocharged V6 engine with 333 hp (245 kW).

In the second quarter of 2009, Audi will add more building blocks to its modular efficiency kit, including an on-board computer with efficiency program and the start-stop system. The start-stop system reduced consumption in a standardized driving cycle by 0.2 liters/100 km (0.05 mpg), or 5 grams of CO2 per kilometer (8.05 g per mile). The system is being used for the first time in all of the new A5 Cabriolet models that have a 2-liter engine ““ TDI or TFSI ““ combined with a manual transmission. It will be added to more models during the course of the year, including the Audi A4 allroad quattro. Visitors will also be able to view the Audi A3 1.4 TFSI with start-stop system at the exhibition stand. The on-board computer with efficiency program displays all consumption-relevant data in the center console, offering potential savings of up to 30 percent.

The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro will be exhibited for the first time in Germany at the AMI Leipzig. The 10-cylinder engine of the R8 generates 525 hp (386 kW), making it possible to go from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in just 3.9 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 316 km/h (196.35 mph). Top Audi technology like the quattro drive system, the lightweight aluminum body and all-LED headlights ““ the first of their kind used in series production ““ make the R8 a technological forerunner in its segment.

The most efficient member of Audi’s high-volume A3 model line will also be on display at the AMI Leipzig: the Audi A3 1.9 TDI e. To achieve average consumption of 4.5 liters (52.27 mpg) and thus a CO2 level of 119 grams per kilometer (191.51 g/mile) and a range of more than 1,000 kilometers per full tank (621.37 miles), changes made to the A3 1.9 TDI included adjustment of the transmission ratios. The gearshift indicator shows which gear is the best choice. In addition, with the Audi A6 2.0 TDI e and Audi A8 2.8 FSI, Audi is exhibiting two more e models that set the pace in their segment when it comes to consumption.

Audi is working tirelessly on further reducing consumption and emissions. The groundbreaking Audi A4 TDI concept e, with its innovative technical concept, delivers the agile handling Audi is known for while consuming an average of just 3.99 liters of fuel per 100 kilometer (58.95 mpg), which corresponds to CO2 emissions of just 105 g/km (168.98 g/mile). The drive system of the Audi A4 TDI concept e is a direct-injection TDI with 120 hp (88 kW).

The Audi stand will also feature the Audi A1 Sportback concept show car, a compact five-door four-seater. The car, which is 3.99 meters long and 1.75 meters wide (13.09 feet long by 5.74 feet wide), combines trendsetting dynamic styling with optimized space efficiency and superb quality. Under the hood, there’s a 1.4 liter TFSI 150 hp (110 kW) engine that powers the front wheels via S tronic. A 27 hp (20kW) electric motor integrated into the drive train delivers up to 150 Nm of additional torque when accelerating.

To mark its 100th anniversary, the brand with the four-ring logo will also be exhibiting historic cars in Leipzig. Construction of the 1938 Auto Union Silver Arrow Type D took four years. The original version of the car won two Grand Prix races in its heyday. The Audi 920, which generated 75 hp, will also be on display at the exhibition stand. With its 6-cylinder in-line engine, this car made a splash as a powerful and sporty midsize car when it was first sold in December 1938.

Audi will also be showing the A8 with an exclusive interior and design package. The Audi A8′s comfort plus style package features Night Blue, pearl effect exterior paint, 12-spoke forged aluminum wheels, adaptive light with LED daytime driving lights, Valcona leather seat covers and Fine Nappa full-leather interiors, front and rear seat heating, and front seat air conditioning combined with massage function. The Audi product program also includes the Audi sport plus style package with all-new Panther Black crystal effect paint, which was developed especially for the Audi A8. Additional features include adaptive light with LED daytime driving lights and S design cast aluminum wheels in a dark steel color.

Audi will participate once again this year in the “AMI fuel efficiency hour” with two e models. During this event, sponsored by the German Motor Vehicle Importers Association (VDIK), exhibition visitors can learn highly efficient driving techniques from an instructor in an Audi A3 1.9 TDI e and an Audi A6 2.0 TDI e.

Visitors can take part in a daily drawing for a DTM Fan Package at 2.30 p.m. at the Audi stand. The package includes two tickets for grandstand seats and free access to the DTM paddocks.

- By: Omar Rana

Rumor has it that Audi and its engineers are thinking very hard about dropping the new turbocharged 2.5L 340-hp engine from the 2010 TT RS into the A3 hatchback. That engine will give the A3 an RS3 designation creating a very high-performance hatchback that we’d love to get behind as soon as possible.

In an interview with a Dutch website, Audi’s product development boss Michael Dick said that the company is “seriously considering” the 2.5L turbo engine for the A3.

Of course, we just want to warn you to not get your hopes up since Audi may detune the engine to produce only 300-hp – or Ingolstadt may decide against it altogether because of the horrible economy or fuel-economy regulations.

But don’t worry, we always have the 2009 Ford Focus RS (well at least your European folks do).

- By: Kap Shah

Source: TopGear

Audi’s very own official press releases say that the powerful Audi TT RS will not be coming to the United States, but Motor Trend‘s Audi sources state quite the opposite. According to insiders, the Audi TT RS has a very high chance of making it to the stateside.

Audi figures that a high-performance car like the 340-hp TT RS could be good for its image in North America. Not to mention a car that can compete with the likes of the Porsche Cayman S with a smaller price tag could lure in buyers.

We can expect the Audi TT RS to hit U.S. shores sometime this fall. Audi sources also said that the RS 5, which is expected to produce around 500-hp, will also make it to the U.S.

2010 Audi TT RS:

2010 Audi TT RS Roadster:

Source: Motor Trend

After all the teasing, Audi has finally revealed the 2010 TT RS Coupe and Roadster. The new 2010 Audi TT RS will hit dealerships this summer across Europe with a turbocharged 2.5L engine with direct-injection.

That helps the TT RS produce a total of 340-hp with a maximum torque of 332 lb-ft. A 6-speed manual transmission transfers power to the quattro all-wheel-drive system helping the 2010 TT RS Coupe go from 0 to 62 mph in 4.6 seconds (the Roadster takes a second longer). Top speed is limited to 174 mph.

Make the jump for the high-res image galleries and a video of the 2010 Audi TT RS in action.

2010 Audi TT RS:

2010 Audi TT RS Coupe:

2010 Audi TT RS Roadster:

2010 Audi TT RS in Action:

Press Release:

The Audi TT RS:
A Pure Driving Machine developing 340 bhp

Audi is once again producing a five-cylinder engine ““ and a very special one at that. Arriving at dealerships this summer, the TT RS has a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with direct gasoline injection; it produces 250 kW (340 bhp) and 450 Nm (331.90 lb.-ft.) of torque. The blazing five-cylinder engine enables the TT RS to perform extraordinary feats. In conjunction with quattro permanent all-wheel drive and a high-performance chassis, the engine makes the compact Audi TT RS a top-notch sports car ““ available as a coupé or roadster.

Sporty five-cylinder gasoline engines have a long legacy at Audi. The most famous is arguably the turbocharged 2.1-liter engine in the Audi quattro. The first version, which was launched in 1980, offered an impressive 147 kW (200 bhp). And the Sport quattro from 1984, directly inspired by motorsport, delivered a whopping 225 kW (306 bhp). For 25 years, turbochargers and quattro have been a dynamic formula for success.

Audi has resumed using this recipe. Designed from scratch, the five-cylinder engine combines a turbocharger with FSI direct gasoline injection to elevate the TT RS to a high-performance sports car. The TFSI delivers 250 kW (340 bhp) from a displacement of 2,480 cc (151.34 cu in): a specific output of 100.8 kW (137.1 bhp) per liter.

The power-to-weight ratio is also outstanding. In the case of the Coupé, which weighs in at a mere 1,450 kilograms (3,196.70 pounds), the power-to-weight ratio is just 4.3 kilograms per bhp. The Roadster has a weight of 1,510 kilograms (3,328.98 pounds) and a power-to-weight ratio of 4.4 kilograms per bhp ““ thanks to its extremely lightweight and largely aluminum body constructed as per the Audi Space Frame principle.

The TT RS Coupé rockets from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62.14 mph) in 4.6 seconds; the Roadster needs just a tenth of a second longer. The limited top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph) is merely the official figure for both versions; as an option, Audi can increase it to 280 km/h (173.98 mph).

Almost even more impressive is the aggressive pulling power. The maximum torque of 450 Nm (331.90 lb.-ft.) is always available between 1,600 and 5,300 rpm. In addition, the TT RS overtakes without the slightest effort. Last but not least, its engine makes passengers” skin tingle time and again thanks to its speedy and powerful response, its inspiring free-revving character, and its unmistakably guttural tailpipes: five-cylinder classical music by Audi!

Compact and Lightweight: The Five-cylinder TFSI

As an uncompromising sports-car engine, the 2.5-liter TFSI is ultra-compact. Just 49 centimeters (19.29 inches) in length, it is ideally suited for transverse installation in the TT RS. And its weight of just 183 kilograms (403.45 pounds) also sets a record. The crankcase is made of vermicular-graphite cast iron. This high-tech material unites the utmost in strength with low weight; it has otherwise only been used for the large TDI engines from Audi. Perfectly placed reinforcements enhance the block”s loadability. The lightweight cylinder head, the pistons, and the connecting rod are lightweight as well as high-strength.

The ultra-powerful five-cylinder engine is extremely fuel-efficient, requiring an average of just 9.2 liters/100 km [25.57 mpg] as regards the Coupé (Roadster: 9.5 l/100 km [24.76 mpg]). Switchable flaps in the intake manifold mix the incoming air in a calculated configuration. Injected at a pressure as high as 120 bar by the common-rail system, the gasoline swirls intensely in the combustion chamber ““ which in turn cools the walls. This subsequently facilitates a compression ratio of 10.0:1, which is very high for a turbocharged engine. Both of the adjustable camshafts, controlled via chains, also enhance charging efficiency with respect to the air-fuel mixture.

The large turbocharger generates up to 1.2 bar of boost pressure. The intercooler, fed air ideally by the lower segment of the single frame radiator grille, reduces the temperature of compressed air by over 80 percent at full load.

When an Audi TT RS driver pushes the standard Sport button on the center tunnel, a flap installed in the left exhaust tailpipe renders the exhaust noise even more robust and intense while boosting engine responsiveness. An optional Sport exhaust system is available with matt black tailpipe trims and sound flap.

For Purists: The Driveline

The Audi TT RS is the first classic sports car in the Audi RS family. Like the RS 4 and the RS 6, the Audi TT RS was developed by quattro GmbH as a pure, no-holds-barred driving machine. A new six-speed manual transmission conveys the engine”s tremendous power, and permits easy and precise operation thanks to a specially designed shift lever boasting particularly short shift travel. The transmission”s defining characteristics are a high efficiency ratio and a sportily narrow spread of the gear ratios.

The Audi TT RS features quattro permanent all-wheel drive as standard equipment. Its heart lies at the rear axle: an electronically controlled, hydraulic multi-plate clutch. If a situation calls for it, the clutch redirects a majority of the torque input from the front wheels to the rear wheels.

Within milliseconds, a powerful electrical pump in conjunction with an accumulator presses together the clutch”s plates via hydraulic pressure. Additions to the quattro powertrain include a constant velocity joint before the propeller shaft and a compact rear-axle differential ““ both are heavy-duty components.

The quattro drivetrain grants the Audi TT RS outstanding traction, fascinating dynamics, and superb stability. Winding rural routes or some laps around a racetrack allow the superior handling to shine. The precise and responsive steering, the instantaneous reactions of the chassis, the neutrality at the cornering limit, the grip while exiting a curve, and ““ time and again ““ the engine”s thrilling power: every mile in an Audi TT RS exudes the distilled essence of sportiness.

High-tech Excellence from Audi: Chassis and Body

The chassis of the Audi TT RS builds on the cutting-edge foundation of the base TT design. The four-link rear suspension, which handles longitudinal and lateral forces separately, plays a crucial role. The electromechanical steering is highly efficient and the power steering adjusts to the vehicle”s speed. With aluminum in the front and sheet steel in the back, the body”s innovative mixture of materials results in a well-balanced axle-load distribution, excellent crash safety, and the outstanding rigidity which lays the cornerstone for the car”s precise handling.

The standard sports chassis, which lowers the body by 10 millimeters (0.39 inches), features tightly tuned springs and shock absorbers. The optional Audi magnetic ride adaptive damping system allows the driver to select one of two modes for the shock absorbers by simply pushing the Sport button. Dynamic mode enables the TT RS to hug the road; Comfort mode provides a pleasantly balanced ride perfect for long journeys.

The sportiest version in the TT model line boasts 18-inch wheels fitted with 245/45 tires. They are complemented by mighty ventilated disc brakes, which measure 370 millimeters (14.57 inches) in diameter at the front and 310 millimeters (12.20 inches) at the rear. So that heat dissipates quickly, the front friction rings are perforated. They, in turn, are connected by hollow pins to the aluminum brake discs, which are encircled by black four-piston brake calipers made of aluminum and bearing RS logos.

The Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) can be switched off partially or entirely. In Sport mode, the engine does not intervene to monitor traction and, correspondingly, the brakes engage later than otherwise. In the second mode, the ESP is fully deactivated.

The Face of Power: The Exterior

At just 4.20 meters (13.78 feet) in length, the vigorously compact Audi TT RS hints at its explosive potential from the very first glimpse. The front spoiler tapers downward into a splitter, reminiscent of a racing car. The large and squared air inlets have diamond-shaped inserts. And the high-gloss black single frame grille with a frame in matt aluminum look and the TT RS badge bear the same styling. The xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights notify faraway drivers that an Audi TT RS is approaching.

The sides of the vehicle are accentuated by large wheels in 5 twin-spoke design, vigorous side sills, and exterior-mirror casings in matt aluminum look. At the tail end, the two large oval exhaust tailpipes ““ spaced apart ““ are encircled by a diffuser insert. Here, too, is a TT RS badge. A stationary rear spoiler is standard, though customers can opt for one which automatically extends and retracts. Thanks to a drag coefficient of just 0.3, the 2+2-seat coupé and the two-seat roadster glide effortlessly through the wind. Audi offers the TT RS in eight colors. Among them are four exclusive options: Daytona Gray, pearl effect; Mugello Blue, pearl effect; Sepang Blue, pearl effect; and Suzuka Gray, metallic. The Roadster”s soft top comes in black or dark gray.

Exclusive Character: Interior and Equipment Packages

The dynamic exterior of the Audi TT RS is matched by the interior. The leather multifunction sports steering wheel has an especially thick rim, is flat-bottomed, and is covered with perforated leather. Integrated in the instrument panel, the driver information system can display boost pressure and oil temperature as well as a lap timer for chronicling feats at the racetrack. The door handles consist of two slim strips ““ typical of Audi RS models. An automatic climate-control system and the concert sound system are standard, as are an electrohydraulic soft top and an electric wind deflector for the Roadster.

The entire interior is black. The heated sports seats feature an Alcantara/leather combination with silver contrasting stitching and embossed TT RS logos in the front backrests. Additional badges and logos appear on the steering wheel, in the rev counter, and on the door sill trims. The inlays are made from brushed aluminum. Floor mats feature silver piping trim; footrests and pedals are in aluminum look.

Audi offers TT RS customers a diverse range of optional equipment: variably styled wheels measuring 18, 19 or 20 inches in diameter; bucket seats with folding backrests; seat upholstery in Silk Nappa leather with perforations or Fine Nappa leather with special TT perforations; inlays with Ibis White or Phantom Black paint finish as well as matt aluminum-look inlays for the exterior. In addition, there are high-tech navigation and multimedia systems available. Sales of the Audi TT RS begin in March; deliveries are scheduled to begin this summer.

The equipment, data and prices stated here refer to the model range offered for sale in Germany. Subject to amendment; errors and omissions excepted.