Audi TT RS heads for US

The United States is going to get the Audi TT RS, after all. Audi of America will begin importing the hottest TT at around this time next year, albeit only in coupe form.

The decision was, apparently, partly influenced by a Facebook campaign to bring the car to the US, with Audi feeling that many of the 11,500 signatories to the petition were likely to be buyers. Not teenagers still years off getting a driving licence sitting in their bedrooms, then.



Interestingly, it seems that the US spec TT RS will be more powerful than versions currently sold in other territories. That’s because the 2.5 litre TFSI five-cylinder engine is set to have an output of 360 bhp (268 kW / 365 PS), instead of the usual 335 bhp (250 kW / 340 PS). Whether that has much impact on performance remains to be seen as, despite the extra horsepower, the quoted 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration time remains unchanged at 4.6 seconds.



360 bhp is a big leap compared to the most powerful TT already on sale across the Atlantic, the TTS. That model, which in the States only comes with the six-speed S tronic dual clutch transmission, has ‘just’ 268 bhp (200 kW / 272 PS), which is nevertheless impressive for a 2.0 litre engine.



Naturally the TT RS, like the TTS, features Audi’s signature quattro all-wheel drive system, although the only gearbox available is a normal six-speed manual.



US pricing has yet to be confirmed but, if a similar structure to Europe is adopted, expect a premium of around 25% over the $47,875 (including destination charges) that a TTS currently costs.

New Abarth Esseesse kits

Abarth has announced it will be launching new Esseesse upgrade kits for the Abarth 500C and Abarth Punto Evo at the Paris Motor Show.



With one in three Abarth 500 hatches already getting the Esseesse treatment, it’s hardly surprising that availability has been extended to the convertible. The Abarth 500C Esseesse also gets its engine power increased from 133 bhp (99 kW / 135 PS) to 157 bhp (117 kW / 160 PS), but a little extra weight means it’s not quite as rapid as the hardtop version. Nevertheless, it’s still a quick car, with top speed of 129 mph (209 km/h) and a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 7.6 seconds.

UK pricing has yet to be confirmed, but the standard Abarth 500C is listed at £17,500 and the existing Esseesse kit for the hatch costs £2,500. On that basis, a grand total of around £20,000 would seem a reasonable guess.



The glaringly obvious rival for the Abarth 500C Esseesse is the Mini Cooper S convertible. That’s priced at a spookily similar £19,965, but it’s faster: 0-62 mph (100 km/h) takes 7.3 seconds, and it’ll go on to 140 mph (225 km/h). Expect the Mini’s fuel consumption and CO2 emissions to be significantly better, too.



Next to both of those cars, the Abarth Punto Evo Esseesse might seem rather a bargain, especially as it uses the innovative 1.4 MultiAir turbo engine as its basis.

Output rises from 162 bhp (121 kW / 165 PS) to 177 bhp (132 kW / 180 PS), although the extra horsepower doesn’t appear to have a huge effect on performance. Compared to the standard Abarth Punto Evo, the 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time only falls from 7.9 to 7.5 seconds, while top speed increases by just 2 mph (3 km/h) to 134 mph (216 km/h).



Again, there’s no word on prices, but the Esseesse kit will probably add £2,500 to the £16,500 that a standard Abarth Punto Evo costs. That will make it more expensive than established - and quicker - competitors such as the Volkswagen Polo GTI / Skoda Fabia vRS / Seat Ibiza SC Cupra trio and the Renault Clio Renaultsport 200.

G-Power X5 M Typhoon

For anyone who thinks that the standard BMW X5 M looks too subtle, or with ‘just’ 547 bhp (408 kW / 555 PS) could do with a bit more grunt, German tuner G-Power has the answer.



First off, it introduced the ‘small’ Typhoon body kit at the end of last year which, with various engine modifications, lifted power to 591 bhp (441 kW / 600 PS).



Now G-Power has launched the ‘big’ Typhoon kit. The valences, side skirts (with their rather naff built-in LEDs) and bulging wheel arches might not be to everyone’s taste, but they’re not just there for show. The larger intakes and bonnet vents allow for optimised air flow and, therefore, better cooling characteristics.

Together with a remapped ECU, tweaked turbo installation and replacement exhaust system, the result is 715 bhp (533 kW / 725 PS) and 890 Nm of torque. That means the 4.4 litre bi-turbo V8 can accelerate the X5 M Typhoon from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.2 seconds, 0.5 seconds quicker than standard. Getting rid of the electronic speed limiter lets it run on to a top speed of ‘over 300 km/h’ (186 mph).



Another benefit of those arches, which increase the car’s width by seven centimetres, is that very large wheels can be stuffed under them. G-Power has specially developed its own 23” Silverstone RS forged alloys, which come shod with Michelin 315/25 ZR 23 tyres. Other chassis alterations include sports suspension and a 30 mm lower ride height.



The modifications don’t come cheap, though. On top of the £78,860 needed to buy an X5 M in the UK, buyers will need to find:

• €18,000.00 (around £15,020) for the 715 bhp power upgrade, which includes the exhaust system


• €12,185.00 (£10,170) for the Typhoon body kit, although fitting is extra


• €8,865.55 (£7,400) for the Silverstone RS wheels and Michelin tyres

That’s a total bill of €39,050, or about £32,590. Gangsters, pimps and drug dealers should form an orderly queue…