The Audi TTS is thanks in large part to quattro GmbH — the performance division responsible for the mighty R8, the result a potent blend of speed, flair, and livability. Audi’s small 2+2 has evolved into a mechanical ensemble that delivers as many smiles on its drivers’ mugs as stares from passersby. Its 2.0-liter four-cylinder is fortified with a strengthened block, an aluminum-silicon alloy head, a bigger Garrett variable turbocharger, reinforced internals, and a remapped ECU. Audi says a sprint to 60 mph in the TTS only takes 4.9 seconds.
Even the Audi TTS has been tested, it’s a capable all-arounder — not just a straight line missile. Slide the S-tronic dual-clutch lever down into the more aggressive “S” mode, and the throttle’s responsiveness noticeably steps up. Like in its R8 big brother, the TTS’s magnetic variable-rate dampers can be stiffened at the press of a button for a considerably sturdier ride. We ran our Solar Orange tester on some rain-soaked serpentine byways of San Diego County, and it easily devoured pavement with a level of poise and eagerness not found on the standard model. Even with the hard mountain rain creating mini-skidpads ahead of us, the quattro all-wheel drive setup kept us out of the berms and pegged on the proper line.
