Caught in something of an image vortex, the trend-setting Audi TT has, by some, never truly been considered as a hardcore sports car, despite serving up plenty of performance, great handling, and a rather attractive outer shell. Often perpetuated to be driven by posers or those that make a living within the beauty trade, the standard version of the Audi TT gets a rough deal, and as such, the fantastic RS version is an overlooked gem.

While those looking to pick up a super-fast Audi coupe or open-top roadster would possibly head straight towards the V10 powered R8 those who know their performance Audi's may take a moment to pause and reflect on the benefits that the incredible TT RS has to offer.

Stylish, packed to the roofline with horsepower, and capable of embarrassing cars that cost a lot more, the TT RS is no pretender, it's a car that rewards keen drivers with an experience like no other.

10 There Are 4 Generations To Choose From

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With the earliest examples dating back to 2009, it's surprising to think that there have now been four generational versions of the ballistic TT RS, a car that has simply got better and faster with every iteration thanks to Audi's dedication to seeking automotive perfection.

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Each variation offers up a purposeful blend of exhilarating speed, sure-footed control, and one of the best build qualities in the business. The TT RS is the perfect blend of style, performance, and comfort in an uncompromising package.

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9 It's a Five Cylinder Symphony On Wheels

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The key to the car's success is the 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbocharged unit that delivers giant dollops of torque, barking loudly as the throttle is blipped before delivering a sonorous soundtrack as the revs climb throughout the gears.

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All generations of TT RS will dispatch the 0-60mph dash in under 5 seconds with the newest version, thanks to a 394hp payload, will obliterate that further hitting 60mph in as little as 3.6 seconds, putting its performance into the supercar league.

8 It'll Give A Porsche A Run For Its Money

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Initially compared to the Porsche Cayman, it soon became clear that the TT RS could easily show the plucky two-seater coupe a clean set of rear lights, delivering more in-gear acceleration and far grip in less than perfect weather.

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Thanks to the generational improvements, the Audi TT RS will happily take the fight to the Porsche 911, besting the base models and never once embarrassing itself when faced with competing against the more powerful cars in the range.

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7 It's A Fantastic Understated Car

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Following a hurried glance, the TT RS could easily be mistaken for a lesser-powered sibling model with only the subtle bodywork changes and badging to set it apart, making the performance focused machine a true wolf in sheep's clothing.

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Subtly subdued yet tastefully aggressive is the TT RS way, as this Audi proves that making an entrance isn't always about turning up with a whale-tail spoiler protruding from the rear or showing off with a ridiculously nasty neon under glow.

6 It Has A Wonderfully Appointed Interior

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Often noted as building the best modern-day vehicle interiors, Audi has kept things simple yet sophisticated within the TT RS with beautifully sculpted, deeply bolstered leather-clad sports seats and a responsive entertainment/information system coming as standard.

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Whether it's carving out a knuckle-whitening route through a challenging or twisting ribbon of blacktop, traffic-clogged highway slogs into the city, or a long-range cross-country jaunt the TT RS interior supports, cossets and is a fantastic place to spend time.

5 It'll Happily Take More Power

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Despite offering up the type of performance figures that usually would be a dream for most sports car owners, that lusty powerhouse of an engine can form the perfect base for those seeking to dial-up huge horsepower figures.

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A simple ECU remap can release in excess of 50 horsepower, whilst bigger modifications such as a hybrid turbo combined with an uprated intercooler can see outputs climb considerably, with a reliable 600hp having been seen.

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4 It's More Practical Than An R8

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Whilst the humble TT may live in the shadow of its supercar sibling, the gorgeous R8, out-and-out performance figures on paper put them more in line with each other than Audi may like, with the TT RS presenting itself as a far more usable vehicle.

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With an additional set of rear seats, a trunk space that will swallow luggage, or, with the seats down, take a mountain bike, the TT RS makes a decent case for itself as a compromised family car - something the R8 will never do.

3 It's Relatively Economical Too

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Let's face it from the off, a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine thumping out as much power as the TT RS does will never make an appearance on the hypermiler list but with a rear world average hovering around 25mpg It's not exactly wallet wilting.

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Plus the earliest models have now depreciated in value to a point where a high-ish mileage example can be bought for less than $20,000 which, considering how much speed and luxury is on offer, does make some monetary gearhead sense.

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2 It's Fast, Whatever The Weather Or Terrain

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One of the biggest benefits the Audi TT RS has over its competition is the standard-fit Quattro all-wheel-drive system, a rally-bred piece of technology that ensures that the rubber-clad wheels have grip no matter what they are touching.

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Point the bluff snout down a gravel-strewn track, snow-covered road, or dust-covered lane and, with the right tire choice, the Quattro system will bestow the TT RS with almost unstoppable terrain beating prowess and reassuring poise.

1 It's A Cut Price Supercar

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While any Audi that sports a genuine RS badge on its nose should never be treated as a bargain buy due to maintenance costs, those looking to obtain the fastest possible example of the TT something of a performance bargain when looking at the numbers.

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Listing down everything that is on offer from the TT RS package from its huge levels of performance when compared to the price, the fantastic build quality, and sheer breadth of talent that it dishes up, then there's really no reason to look elsewhere.