by Michael Butler
Audi builds fast cars, but it builds them differently. The legendary R8 is still steaming on with a naturally aspirated V10 engine, and the RS6 Avant is one of the most badass station wagons ever to grace US roads. Then there's this thing - the 2021 Audi TT RS - a hairdresser's Sunday cruiser turned supercar hunter. The third generation of the TT 2-door coupe is a sleek-looking vehicle and features the second-gen Rs in its lineup. This machine boasts more aggressive styling, a tweaked chassis and suspension setup, better brakes than the regular TT and TTS, and of course, a potent 2.5-liter 5-cylinder gas engine producing 394 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. Pair these figures up with Audi's legendary quattro all-wheel-drive system, and you have yourself a recipe for fun. The 2021 TT RS goes up against fellow Germans such as the Porsche 718 Cayman and BMW M2.
The 2021 Audi TT RS coupe sees a serious price increase of almost $5,000, but the good news is that it also comes with a ton of new standard gear, which you would have had to pay extra for last year. The exterior now features 20-inch wheels, red brake calipers, and the Black Optic package is also standard - adding several black exterior trim pieces. The interior now houses an in-dash navigation system, blind-spot monitoring, carbon fiber trim, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system.
See trim levels and configurations:
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Price (MSRP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 TFSI quattro |
2.5L Turbo Inline-5 Gas
|
7-Speed Automatic
|
All-Wheel Drive
|
$72,500 |
| 2.5 TFSI quattro Heritage Edition |
2.5L Turbo Inline-5 Gas
|
7-Speed Automatic
|
All-Wheel Drive
|
$82,495 |
NHTSA safety ratings are not available at this time.
The Audi TT platform has been honed for well over a decade into the capable machine it is today, and at the top of the pile sits the TT RS, a sharper and more exciting version of the already capable base and TTS models, The TT RS does what fast Audis do best: it launches out of the hole with ferocity, offers a beautifully built interior, and puts a smile on your face through the bends. Due to its re-tuned chassis, the RS is notably stiffer than the base model and even the sporty TTS, but we could live with it on a daily basis with no issues. The interior is refined and has the perfect amount of sporty touches to make it feel special, and the standard tech is on par with rivals, but we wish Audi would offer more standard driver-assistance systems. You won't find a safety rating review of the 2021 Audi TT RS, either, but you can depend on the reliability and good sense of the brand. At the end of the day, this car is an absolute weapon, even in the hands of inexperienced drivers, and that's exactly what makes it so great.
There's only one trim in the 2021 Audi TT RS lineup, so we would suggest looking at some of the options to make yours stand out. If we were buying, we'd go for one in Daytona Gray Pearl and add a sport exhaust, the electric retractable rear spoiler, and a set of OLED taillights. Not only does this make it look and sound better, but it has an impact on performance, too. On the inside, we'd add the RS Design interior package, which includes features such as leather upholstery with red accents, RS floor mats, and a 12-hour steering wheel marker.
The most popular competitors of 2021 Audi TT RS:
Acura
Alfa Romeo
Aston Martin
Audi
Bentley
BMW
Bollinger
BrightDrop
Bugatti
Buick
Cadillac
Caterham
Chevrolet
Chrysler
Dodge
Ferrari
Fiat
Fisker
Ford
Genesis
GMC
Gordon Murray Automotive
Hennessey
Honda
Hyundai
Infiniti
Jaguar
Jeep
Karma
Kia
Koenigsegg
Lamborghini
Land Rover
Lexus
Lincoln
Lordstown
Lotus
Lucid Motors
Maserati
Mazda
McLaren
Mercedes-Benz
Mini
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Pagani
Polestar
Porsche
Ram
Rimac
Rivian
Rolls-Royce
Spyker
Subaru
Tesla
Toyota
VinFast
Volkswagen
Volvo