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2012 Audi TT RS Test Drive And Review - The Power To Surprise

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I can't remember the last time I was genuinely surprised by a car. Surprised in a good way, that is.

The 2012 Audi TT RS surprised my socks off. With a base price of $56,850 ($61,125 as tested), the TT RS carries Audi’s 4-year/50,000-mile warranty with roadside assistance and an EPA fuel economy estimate of 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway.

When I think "Audi" I think "high tech." I admire Audi's exterior and interior design, but I'm not usually moved by it. To apply a generalization to Audi: clean, crisp and modern -- but just a little bit cold.

The TT RS, which Audi describes as "the pinnacle of the TT model line," warms up the cold with incredible performance. One session behind the wheel, and I was in love.

Love lives in the heart, and the heart of the TT RS is the 2.5-liter turbocharged five cylinder engine that beats in the engine compartment over the front wheels. The lusty powerplant puts out 360 hp and 343 lb-ft of torque, with a very broad powerband. That's 360 hp in a coupe that weighs just 3,306 lbs. Not to get too mathy, but I always calculate the pounds-per-horsepower ratio to help understand how a car feels. The TT RS has a ratio of 9.18. To put that in context -- a Lamborghini Aventador has a lb/hp ratio of 4.96; a Smart Pure Coupe's ratio is 25.83. Continuing down this garden path -- a Porsche Cayman rates at 11.31; a Porsche 911 rates at 8.69; a Lexus IS-F rates at 9.09; a Subaru BR-Z comes in at 13.81. Pounds-per-horsepower isn't always an indicator of how quick a car is -- there are many other factors, including gearing and aerodynamics and electronics, each of which contributes to quickness. But I've found that a low ratio affects how a car feels off the line and coming out of a curve. As the ratio goes down, a car is transformed from a locomotive to a rocket. The TT RS is a rocket, and it's fun every drive. More numbers to support this impression: Audi reports that the TT RS accelerates from 0-60 in 4.1 seconds. That's incredibly fast. Only a handful of coupes, like the Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Coupe and Cadillac CTS-V are quicker for under $75,000.

Enough with the numbers; more with the feelings.

My test TT came with an optional ($1,500) Sport exhaust that should be mandatory. It sounds great. The exhaust note that it produces sent chills up my spine, with a deep, throaty growl. I know that sounds a little racy, but there it is.

A great engine is nothing unless it's hooked up to a great transmission, and the TT RS comes equipped with a slick 6-speed manual that's as easy to operate as an automatic, with a light, responsive clutch and short shift throws. The spherical shift grip reminds me of the old Volkswagen GTI shifter, one of my all-time favorites. TT also gets Audi's famous quattro all-wheel drive system, big disc brakes front and rear and 19" wheels with low profile tires. The ride and handling is outstanding on smooth surfaces, and not punishing on rough city streets, thanks to standard Audi magnetic ride, an active suspension system. I spent most of my time driving in Sport mode, selectable via a center console button. Sport mode stiffens the shocks a bit, quickens throttle response and opens up a flap that enhances exhaust sounds -- so you don't just feel quicker, you sound quicker, too. A TT RS exclusive flat bottom steering wheel completes the go-fast feeling.

If you're unlucky enough to be trapped outside of the TT and not in the driver's seat, there's plenty to look at. TT's exterior has evolved from a Bauhaus-inspired art car to a genuinely gorgeous capsule. The RS gets a tastefully-sized fixed rear wing spoiler to improve downforce, but really, it's there to look cool -- and it does. Audi's signature open mouth front grille, LED running lights and a high level of fit and finish assure that the TT RS turns heads. Young male drivers in particular made a point of telling me how much they admired the TT RS; a few of my Porsche-owning neighbors made a point to drop by and ask me about the car, and I was happy to show it off. I always made a point of pointing out the TT's utility -- open up the rear hatch, and there's 13.1 cubic feet of luggage space, expandable to 24.7 cubic feet by folding down the rear seats.

All is not perfect in the TT RS. That second row of seats is vestigial at best -- I wouldn't transport anybody I liked back there, because they'd never forgive me. The standard audio system doesn't have a USB input or Bluetooth streaming audio, and I could never figure out how to disconnect a phone call when using the Bluetooth phone connection. A vehicle at this price point should come with standard GPS navigation -- instead, it's part of a $3,500 technology package of options. Also, with the low, sports car-like seating position, it would be nice to have keyless ignition so I could leave my keys in my pocket and not have to struggle to get them out of my tight skinny jeans.

Even with these few small complaints, I still think that the TT RS might be the most fun you can buy for under $75,000. There are other sports coupes to consider in the same neighborhood. There's the mid-engine/rear-wheel drive Porsche Cayman; the mid-engine/rear-wheel drive Lotus Evora; the front-engine/rear-wheel drive Cadillac CTS-V; the front-engine/rear-wheel drive BMW M3; and the front-engine/rear-wheel drive Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. All are excellent cars, each offering a different set of strengths and weaknesses.

Still, I return to my original premise. The 2012 Audi TT RS surprised me every time I got behind the wheel. It surprised me every time I looked at it in front of my house. It surprised me when I opened its trunk or looked under its hood. What more can you ask from a car that can get to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, while still delivering up to 25 miles per gallon on the highway?