Audi TT RS Coupe 2dr Car Review - March 2012

The 2.5-litre five cylinder engine delivers 335 bhp at 5400-6500 rpm with 332 lb-ft arriving at 1600-5300 rpm. The top speed is limited to 155 mph and 0-62 takes 4.5 seconds - two tenths of a second faster than an Aston Martin Vantage. The performance credentials are truly astounding and you'll be faster than almost anything else on the road.

The steering is taught and precise and the car handles superbly thanks to its four-wheel-drive system which keeps the car planted even under heavy cornering. As such, the TT RS offers bucket loads of grip and is genuinely one of the most impressive cars to drive under £50k.

Standard equipment includes power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows and an advanced stereo system with CD player and MP3 connectivity.

Additional features such as Bluetooth connectivity, a built in sat nav, rear parking sensors and cruise control are all available for an extra cost. Bluetooth connectivity costs £250 whilst the built-in sat nav, rear parking sensors and cruise control are priced at £665, £305 and £220 respectively.

The external appearance can also be enhanced with a metallic paint finish which costs £510 and the inferior part-leather interior of some TT Roadster and TT Coupe models is replaced with full leather to increase comfort.

Noise from the wind and road is audible but not excessive and the powerful engine delivers the ferocious roar which drivers expect at virtually any speed. There is a lot of adjustment within the front seats and the steering column and that means that drivers have lots of opportunities to get comfortable.

In terms of safety, this model comes fitted with driver, passenger and front side airbags as standard. An alarm and immobiliser are also fitted to protect the vehicle from theft and the car comes with a three year warranty for 60,000 miles. A service interval of 9,000-19,000 miles is recommended and that means maintenance costs can vary.

You get 290-litres of boot space which is perfectly adequate for a car of this type.

Priced at £45,840 the additional power in this model certainly comes at a high price. Running costs will be high too with the car falling under insurance group 40 and road tax band K.

The fuel efficiency of 31.4mpg on super unleaded fuel also means that refilling the car will be a big expense.

Ultimately, these cars are for those with cash to spend and that means the purchase price and running costs are unlikely to be a major consideration.