The Audi TT is a small two-door sports car marketed by Volkswagen Group subsidiary Audi since 1998.  For each of its two generations, the TT has been available as a 2+2 Coupé and as a two-seater roadster employing consecutive generations of the Volkswagen Group A platform, starting with the A4.  As a result of this platform-sharing, the Audi TT has identical powertrain and suspension layouts as its related platform-mates; including a front-mounted transversely oriented engine, front-wheel drive or quattro four-wheel drive system, and fully independent front suspension using MacPherson struts.

With its world debut at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show, and developed by Audi's high-performance subsidiary quattro GmbH at Neckarsulm, Audi released the first ever compact sports car Audi "RS" model – the Audi TT RS, which was available starting in 2009 in Coupé and Roadster variants.  This new TT RS harks back to the sporting legacy of 1980s Audi Quattros – with their high-performance five-cylinder turbocharged engines.  The TT RS includes an all-new 2.5-litre inline five-cylinder Turbocharged Fuel Stratified Injection (TFSI) petrol engine.  This new 183 kilograms (403 lb) engine produces a DIN-rated motive power output of 250 kilowatts (340 PS; 335 bhp) from 5,400 to 6,700 rpm, and torque of 450 newton metres (332 lbf·ft) at 1,600–5,300 rpm.

The TT RS has a new short-shift close-ratio six-speed manual transmission, and like all "RS" models, is only available with Audi's "trademark" quattro four-wheel-drive system, with the TT RS using a specially adapted version of the latest generation multi-plate clutch from Haldex Traction.  Additions to the quattro system include a constant velocity joint before the cardan propeller shaft, and a compact rear-axle differential – upgraded to cope with the increased torque from the five-cylinder turbo engine.

Official performance figures indicate the TT RS Coupé will accelerate from standstill to 100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph) in 4.5 seconds (4.7 seconds for the Roadster), with an electronically limited top speed of 250 kilometres per hour (155.3 mph).  The Coupé has a kerb weight of 1,450 kilograms (3,197 lb), and the Roadster weighs in at 1,510 kilograms (3,329 lb).

As of 2010, the TT-RS is available with the 7-speed DSG automatic transmission capable of handling the torque delivered by the engine.  The 6-speed gearbox used in the TT-S cannot cope with 450 newton metres (332 lbf·ft) which is why the TT-RS initially was offered only with a manual transmission.

In 2012, the TT RS plus was launched.  It has an uprated version of the 2.5 litre, 5 cyl, turbocharged engine (from the RS Q3 concept car), power increasing from 340 ps (335 bhp) to 360 ps (355 bhp) and torque rising from 331 LB FT to 342LB FT.  Predictably, performance benefits as well; 0–62 mph takes 4.3 seconds – 0.2 seconds faster than the Standard TT RS.

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