Audi TT 2.7T V6

The concept
Imagine taking an Audi RS4 B5 with the legendary 2.7T biturbo V6 from 2001 and an Audi TT 8N Coupé, and combining them to create the ultimate Audi sports car based on the TT. This bold idea originated in the minds of some Audi engineers in 2001 and was actually realised under the guidance of quattro GmbH. The very first TT V6, even before the 3.2 VR6 hit the market two years later.

The challenge

At base, of course, this sounds like pure madness. The technical fundamentals of the A4 and TT are completely different:

A4 engine longitudinally and TT transversely in front
A4 Torsen quattro and TT Haldex
Wheelbase A4 260.7 cm and TT 243.0 cm

To make this possible, they used the entire platform of the Audi RS4 B5. Behind the petrol tank, 17 cm was removed to make the wheelbase equal to the TT 8N quattro. Challenge 1 ‘solved’. Now they could use the potential of the RS4 platform and quattro drive in the Audi TT. The bodywork of the TT Coupé was then placed on this shortened platform.
The next challenge was the engine bay. A transversely mounted 4-cylinder needs less space than a hefty V6 with two longitudinal turbos. To make this fit, the front bumper was modified and moved forward a few centimetres. This detail is easy to see at the headlights and a direct comparison of the bumpers.

The specifications
The ‘base’ engine of the RS4 B5 had 380 hp, but for the TT 2.7T V6 - RS4, it was boosted a little to 450 hp. In 2001, these were specifications that could compete with the Porsche 911 Turbo S (also 450 hp). Below is a summary of the key data:

Engine:	V6 5-valve DOHC bi-turbo
Displacement:	2,671 cm³
Power:	450 hp (331 kW) at 6,500 min-1
Drivetrain:	permanent 4-wheel drive
Gearbox:	6 v., manual transmission
Wheelbase:	2,429 mm
Length:	4,140 mm (100 mm more then a normal TT)
Width:	1,764 mm
Height:	1,345 mm
Empty weight:	Empty weight: approx. 1,550 kg (normal 1,440 kg for a 225 hp & 1,465 kg for a 3.2)
Top speed:	290 km/h
Acceleration:	4,8 s (0-100 km/h)
Wheel size:	8,5J x 18 inches
Tyre size:	255/35 ZR18
Date of production:	2001
Number:	1

Some details
Unfortunately, it stayed with this one prototype, which is only occasionally pulled out of Audi Tradition's basements. Like in 2013 during quattro GmbH's 30th anniversary and in early 2023 at the Techno-Classica Essen to mark the TT's 25th market anniversary.
Looking closely at the concept car, a few things stand out:

The concept is on tyre size 255/35 R18, 3 cm wider than the TT's standard 18-inch tyre size.
Furthermore, engineers hav also improved the interior with:
- Recaro pole position bucket seats (also available for the TT from October 2001) from the RS4 Sport presented at the Essen Motor Show in 2000.
- A leather-clad dashboard.
- An alcantara steering wheel.
For looks, a substantial rear spoiler was fitted (recognisable from the ABT versions) and the front bumper was optically modified with air intakes on both sides.
One could have saved some weight by omitting the navigation system and rear seats, for example.
There is a sticker on the dashboard saying that no ESP is active, which guarantees pure driving pleasure.

Finally
Audi never arranged for a formal licence plate for this model, so it is not street-legal. Still, they drove it for at least 20,000 km in the first 1.5 years to experience and try out the concept. All this in complete anonymity, because from a distance it looks like a perfectly normal TT with an extra spoiler.

Who dares to take up the challenge to repeat this feat and make a copy?