The Audi TT has long been recognized as a compact sports car with a distinctive shape, ideal for daily driving. However, I never considered it a competitor to vehicles like the Porsche Cayman or Carrera 4S. With the 2018 model, I believe everything has changed. Here’s our experience with the 2018 Audi TT RS.

Exterior Design

Starting with its exterior color, the 2018 Audi TT RS features a striking and exclusive shade that is particularly favored this year. This color, known as Catalonia Red, is sure to appeal to many FC Barcelona fans.

A unique aspect of this car is that it is the first in the world to use O-LED rear lights, giving it a distinctive rear lighting signature that includes the TT logo. It also boasts a fixed rear wing, setting it apart from any other TT model, along with front and rear air diffusers and 20-inch wheels.

Interior Design

The interior of the Audi TT RS is one of the most beautiful examples of minimalist design I have seen. The designers have excelled in minimizing the number of buttons, resulting in a clean and sophisticated layout.

The driver faces a single screen, known as Audi's Virtual Cockpit.
The passenger will find it challenging to access any information about the car, even something as simple as the selected radio channel.
The driver has all the necessary information available and can customize it without losing focus on the road.
Another notable feature is the automatic climate control knobs, which are circular and located in the center of the air vents.

Driving Experience

Historically, the Audi TT struggled with cornering due to its compact size, with the front-mounted engine positioned very close to the front of the vehicle. To enhance stability in the 2018 version, a new engine weighing 26 kg less has been introduced to minimize its impact on steering during turns.

The engine is a turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder unit producing 400 horsepower, transmitted to the wheels through Audi's 7-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission. You can shift gears manually using the gear lever or the paddles behind the steering wheel.

This setup allows the Audi TT RS to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 250 km/h. With Audi's Quattro system distributing power to all four wheels, you can navigate high speeds with remarkable stability in corners.

Conclusion

With these impressive specifications and a starting price of AED 291,000, reaching AED 306,000 for the model we tested, the 2018 Audi TT RS is a formidable competitor against cars priced nearly double. It stands out as one of the best options I've experienced this year for a high-performance sports car without exceeding AED 500,000.