Modern Thrills: Audi TT RS

For the 1990s assembly back in February, Hagerty in the Hangar, the new vs old car of choice was designed to surprise. 

Forget the famous 1990s cars, the hot hatches and the dying embers of the fiery 1980s supercars; here was a car that doesn’t look or feel 20-plus years old.

But Audi TT keys landed in journalists’ hands in 1998, and nearly 25 years later they remain in demand for the weeklies and monthlies.

It might not have the out-and-out glamour of some of its contemporaries, or the enthusiast demand that something like the Lotus Elise commands, but it has endured perhaps better than any car launched in the 1990s. Few of them continue to be in production – even that Elise has run its course.

Today’s is a very different beast compared to the rather tamer Mk1, so we handed the reins of a TT RS to Nick Trott, former editor of evo and Motor Sport, to have his say.

"It’s unlikely that Audi ever considered an RS version of the TT when the original model was launched in 1998. That car was a chic coupé; a vehicle that prioritised visual appeal over performance and one that was never designed to win dynamic road test comparisons against the sharper-edged BMWs – or even the top hot-hatches of the day.

"In that respect, it’s a miracle the TT RS even exists. With a howling five-cylinder 2.5-litre 395bhp engine, a top speed of 175mph and a 0-60mph time that’s half a second quicker than a Ferrari F40, it’s in a different universe to the original TT. 

"It drives, steers, accelerates and corners like a mini supercar. And it looks like one too."

"It’s compact too – especially when you consider that many of its rivals have grown in size and weight. This, plus a couple of small rear seats, a decent boot and four-wheel drive makes it a very compelling year-round performance car. 

"Sure, a Porsche Cayman is more involving, but the all-round liveability of the TT RS is compelling.

"Is it a future classic? Now that’s a question. An original unmolested TT likely has more classic potential, but the RS has genuine character, extraordinary performance, and should be celebrated for just how far it takes the original TT concept beyond its original scope."