Inside, the new TT RS keeps the same layout and features as the standard TT meaning the three air vents, mounted in the middle of the dashboard also house the climate controls. The minimalistic interior design continues with Audi’s Virtual Cockpit in place of the speedo and rev counter dials and a flat-bottomed steering wheel stolen from the R8 supercar which houses the starter button, and a pair of supportive leather sports seats.
Unlike the TT RS coupe, the roadster doesn’t have rear seats – all the space is now taken by the retractable fabric roof. Up front, however, there’s plenty of space and the driving position is exactly as you’d hope from a sports car. Even the boot is decent by roadster standards, offering a similar volume to that of a supermini.
It may be an uncompromising performance machine, but the TT RS still offers some neat practical touches. Microphones integrated into the seat belt ensures chats via Bluetooth-enabled phone calls can be clearly heard even with the roof down and the fabric roof can be folded electrically at speeds of up to 31mph.
As far as the driving experience goes, think of the TT RS as a drop-top rocket ship. It combines a 395hp engine with Audi’s famed Quattro four wheel drive system to deliver dizzying acceleration. There are several driving modes to choose from on the fly, allowing the driver to tweak the suspension, gearbox and steering settings according to the conditions via a steering-wheel-mounted button. A flap installed in the exhaust system opens when the most sporty ‘dynamic’ mode is selected, increasing the volume of that wonderful five-cylinder engine.
Even the most basic versions of the Audi TT flaunt a cabin beautiful enough to shame those in much more expensive alternatives, and the spruce-ups granted to RS models only improve the atmosphere further.
Audi TT RS Roadster passenger space
As two-seat sports cars go, accomodation levels are more than adequate. A pair of electrically-adjustable sports seats trimmed in soft leather not only look great, but support you in all the right places. The steering wheel, a gorgeous flat-bottomed item trimmed in leather and alcantara, is lifted from the R8 supercar.
It’s quite spacious up front, so drivers and passengers of all shapes and sizes fit without much difficulty. The low convertible roof doesn’t hamper headroom, unless you’re Abraham Lincoln, and you can always fold it away for millions of miles of space.
Unlike the TT RS Coupe, the Roadster is a strict two seater. The seats in the back of the coupe model are next to useless anyway, so this is not such a huge loss.
Audi TT RS Roadster boot space
To make way for the fabric folding roof, overall loading space has taken a slight hit compared to the TT RS Coupe – the Roadster’s 280-litre boot is 25 litres smaller. The Coupe’s hatchback-like opening is sacrificed too, so it’s harder to load bulky items. By cabriolet standards, it’s still pretty usable though.
The 2.5-litre engine kicks out 395hp and 354lb ft, and paired with the Quattro four-wheel drive system and a dual clutch automatic gearbox, it’s enough to get the TT RS Roadster from 0-62mph in just 3.9 seconds. Top speed is limited to 155mph, or 174mph for models equipped with the Performance Pack Plus. The seven-speed auto shifts smoothly and responds quickly in manual mode even if you sometimes miss the extra involvement in a BMW M2 equipped with a manual gearbox.