It’s a bit hard to see the point of the new Audi TT RS Plus. After all, the regular version is already quicker than the competition, so the extra 19 bhp (15 kW / 20 PS) that has been extracted from the 2.5 litre, five-cylinder turbocharged engine isn’t strictly essential.

2012 Audi TT RS Plus Coupé. Scroll down for more images.

The effect on performance doesn’t seem to be that significant either, especially as Audi (like just about every other manufacturer) concentrates on the two parameters that have the least relevance to the real world.

First of these is the 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration time, which drops by 0.2 seconds; the second is top speed which, thanks to a recalibration of the electronic limiter, increases from 155 mph (250 km/h) to 173 mph (280 km/h). Unfortunately, there’s no word on what impact the additional horsepower has had on the all-important mid-range.

At least it means that owners will still have bragging rights when it comes to comparing the TT to its rivals from BMW and Porsche:

	Audi TT RS Plus Coupé (with S tronic)	BMW 1 Series M Coupé	Porsche Cayman R (with PDK)
Power	355 bhp (265 kW / 360 PS)	335 bhp (250 kW / 340 PS)	325 bhp (243 kW / 330 PS)
Torque	465 Nm (342 lb/ft)	450 Nm (331 lb/ft)	370 Nm (272 lb/ft)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	4.1 secs	4.9 secs	4.9 secs
Top speed	173 mph (280 km/h)	155 mph (250 km/h)	173 mph (280 km/h)
Combined fuel consumption	33.2 mpg (8.5 l/100km)	29.4 mpg (9.6 l/100km)	30.4 mpg (9.3 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	TBC	224 g/km	218 g/km
UK price	TBC	£40,020	£53,914

There’s not too much to visually distinguish the TT RS Plus, although it does get an anthracite mesh front grille with a matt aluminium-look surround, carbon fibre door mirror caps and 19” Rotor cast alloy wheels that come with a rather dodgy-looking red trim around their edges.

Prices for the UK have yet to be confirmed, but in Germany the Coupé is €60,650 with a manual gearbox, or €62,800 with the seven-speed S tronic transmission. The Roadster costs €2,850 more.