BMW’s new M2, probably the most popular car to come from Bavaria in years, has had no shortage of competitors. Ford Focus RS, Porsche Cayman S, Jaguar F-Type, Ford Mustang, you name it, it’s been compared with the BMW M2. However, there’s another new sports car to come from Bavaria that packs serious performance with great looks all based on a humble chassis — the Audi TT RS. So which is the better Bavarian?
Top Gear recently put both cars against each other to see which is best.
In BMW’s corner, the M2 puts out 365 hp from its 3.0 liter turbocharged I6 engine and sends it to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual (in this case, a seven-speed DCT is optional). That means its good for 0-60 mph in about 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. It’s also quite the slidey car, with a chassis that’s willing to play.
In Audi’s corner, the TT RS packs a 2.5 liter turbocharged I5 engine that makes an impressive 400 hp. All of those horsepowers are sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic only. While it lacks the Bimmer’s manual option, it can get to 60 mph faster, doing the sprint in about 3.9 seconds. That makes it Porsche 911 fast but in an Audi TT.
So both cars boast impressive engines, power and performance. But which car is actually better to drive?
In terms of engines, there aren’t many on the market at this price that can shame BMW’s N55 3.0 liter I6. However, the TT RS’ brilliant turbo five-pot is something from another planet. It’s loud, raucous and exciting in a way the BMW’s I6 can’t match. The M2’s N55 engine is brilliant in its own right, but Audi’s 2.5 liter turbo-five is probably the most exciting engine in a car under six-figures.
The Audi TT RS is also brutally fast and more of a point and shoot car. Rocket down into a corner, hard on the brakes, turn the wheel and fire out of it using that violent engine. Rinse and repeat. That’s pretty much how the TT RS is drive, as it has tremendous amounts of power and grip. Though grace is on short supply. It understeers quite a bit and has steering that lacks clarity.
As for the BMW M2, it’s sort of the anti-TT RS. It’s slower and less violent but more graceful. Head into a corner and you can gently kick the back end out with ease and control. It’s more of a momentum car than the TT RS, as its rear-wheel drive chassis is more up on its toes and alive in your hands. The M2’s steering isn’t perfect, as it still lacks feel, but it’s better than the TT RS’ completely numb rack.
Both cars are a riot to drive, with both having very different characteristics. The BMW M2 is the more traditionally rear-driven sports car while the TT RS is more about power, grip and technology. If Top Gear only had to choose one, they’d pick the BMW M2. It’s the more consistently fun car of the two, but that’s not taking much away from the TT RS. The latter car is great to drive, just not as fun as often as the BMW.
[Source: Top Gear]
