We saw the 2017 Audi TT-RS Coupe 
out testing back in October sporting just a little camo on the front and rear. Then, just last month, we got some photos of it doing some cold weather testing in Sweden sporting a pretty yellow paint finish and no camo at all. As we expected, the Audi TT-RS Roadster isn’t far behind its coupe brother. The Nürburgring just opened for testing this week, and one of the first on the track was the Audi TT-RS Roadster.
Spring is right around the corner, but the Green Hell is still thawing out. Unfortunately, that means the man behind the wheel didn’t drop the top during his runs around the track. That means that, aside from the shot of the interior from the coupe, the inside of the new TT-RS is still a pretty big mystery. We’re hoping the Coupe debuts at the 2016 New York Auto Show, as that would mean that the TT-RS Roadster might debut at Paris Auto Show in October.
We can’t wait to see the Coupe in the metal, but we’re really itching to see the roadster version. With that said, let’s take a good look at these new spy shots. They are the first we’ve received of the roadster, and that in itself makes it exciting to talk about.
Continue reading to learn more about the 2018 Audi TT-RS Roadster.
Spy Shots
March 15, 2016 – First testing session
Exterior
The TT-RS Roadster still has some camo on it, mainly covering the front fascia, the lower half of each side, and most of the rear. The color of the body beyond the camo is a metallic gray of sorts. Up front, the Roadster looks to sport the same headlight units as the TT-RS coupe. The grille, corner vents, and air dam look to be the same shape. As you can see the grille is backed by honeycomb mesh, but that will eventually be replaced by the grille with horizontal slats like the one we saw on the coupe. The corner vents are also unfinished, backed by what looks like window screen. Despite the end being covered in camo, it’s clear the hood from the coupe will carry over to the roadster.
On the sides, the roadster looks similar to the coupe, but it looks like the side skirts might be a little different
On the sides, the roadster looks similar to the coupe, but it looks like the side skirts might be a little different. It could just be padding playing tricks on us at this point, but the side skirts may be a little more aggressive on the roadster – they definitely protrude from the body more than they do on the coupe. To the rear, the rear deck lid is identical to the rearmost portion of the hatch on the coupe, as are the taillight units. Outside of the necessary changes to the rear quarters and the addition of a deck lid, the roadster looks like it will be identical in the rear. It even has the same oval-shaped exhaust outlets.
Interior
The inside of the Roadster is still a complete mystery at this point, but we do have a couple shots of the coupe’s interior, so that gives us an idea. Expect to see a flat-bottomed steering wheel, circular HVAC vents, and a refined console. The instrument cluster will be a digital unit that is controlled by buttons on the steering wheel. All told, it will probably be identical to the current to the interior of the 2016 Audi TT S interior, with minor changes to accommodate that drop top. Until we see the car in the metal, however, that is all we have to go on.
Drivetrain
We expect the TT-RS Roadster to be powered by the 2.5-liter five-cylinder that powered the previous model, but it will be upgraded. We expect it to push anywhere between 375 and 400 horses, which would be a 20 to 55 horsepower improvement over the previous model. Power will be sent to the ground through a six-speed manual transmission or an S-Tronic gearbox. Undoubtedly, the TT-RS Roadster will come standard with Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system. A 60 mph sprint should take four seconds give or take, and top speed should be about 175 mph. Either way you look at it, that’s not bad for a drop-top.
On another note, Audi could opt to increase horsepower on the new TT-RS even more by going with a larger turbocharger. Turbo lag would be an issue, but there are solutions out there that can put an end to that problem if Audi chooses to go that path. It would be nice if it did. Throw on a smaller, electric boost unit for low speeds, and a bigger turbo wouldn’t be much of a problem at all. Here’s to hoping.
Prices
We’re expecting to see the Audi TT-RS Roadster to debut about six months after the Audi TT-RS coupe, but we have yet to hear confirmation that either will come to the U.S. If the TT-RS does cross the pond, we expect the coupe to pull more than $60,000, and the Roadster to pull an even higher premium – probably closer to $70,000 before taxes, options, and delivery.
Competition
Porsche 718 Boxster
Despite the fact that most of the body panels on the new Boxster are quite similar to the previous model, Porsche claims that each body panel was completely redesigned. All told, the 2017 model was actually a pretty mild facelift, even with the redesign of the body panels. Inside, the Boxster received a new dashboard and some new technology.
For 2017, the Boxster received a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 300 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. That really isn’t enough to compete well with the TT-RS Roadster, though. So we have to look at the Boxster S. It has a 2.5-liter mill that pumps out 350 horsepower and 309 pound-feet, which puts it much closer to that of the new TT-RS. The 60 mph sprint takes 4.4 seconds with a manual transmission, or 4.2 seconds when equipped with the PDK tranny. The standard Boxster retails from $56,000, but moving up to the Boxster S will set you back by $68,400 – right about where we expect the TT-RS Roadster to be priced.
Read our full review of the Porsche 718 Boxster here.
Conclusion
As much as I hate to say it, I don’t think the Audi TT-RS, in any form, is going to come to the U.S., and that is a shame indeed. It will share a lot in common with the TTS that we do have here, so we can at least enjoy some of the same luxuries afforded to our European friends. The Roadster should be pretty similar to the coupe, save for a few changes required to accommodate the drop top. Plus, the roadster will have unlimited headroom. The new Roadster will have a sportier look compared to the previous model, and will evidently boast a little more power too, which is always a plus. I look forward to seeing videos of this baby in action with the top down in the near future. I’ll be waiting to see it at auto shows later this year.
LOVE IT
Drop top TT-RS Power upgrade over previous modelLEAVE IT
Probably won’t come to U.S. Won’t debut until at least six months after the TT-RS Coupe