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Audi Channels ’80s Racing Heritage For New Audi TT Clubsport Turbo Concept

Audi looked to its legendary 1989 90 IMSA GTO for inspiration when designing its latest show car, the 600 horsepower TT clubsport turbo. Built for Wörthersee, the largest Volkswagen and Audi show in Europe, the clubsport turbo showcases what Audi’s electrically-assisted turbocharger technology is capable of in a performance application and may give us an indication as to what to expect from future Audi RS models.

The TT clubsport turbo produces 600 horsepower and 479.4 lb-ft of torque from a highly tuned version of Audi’s 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbocharged engine, which is connected to a six-speed manual transmission. The engine utilizes a larger turbocharger which is larger than that found in the RS3 Sportback, for example, coupled with a smaller electrically powered turbocharger. The ‘E-Turbo’ helps the larger turbo to spool up if there is too little drive energy left in the exhaust gasses and will also eliminate turbo lag, assuring “spontaneous response and powerful sprints from low engine speeds at all times,” Audi says.

With a low weight of 3,077 lbs and a permanent all-wheel drive system, the clubsport turbo will sprint from 0-62 mph in 3.6 seconds and reach a top speed 192.6 mph (310 km/h). Audi notes the ‘E-Turbo’ allows it to up to 16 meters (52.5 ft) within the first 2.5 seconds, nearly 20 feet further than a comparable car without the technology. A 48-volt electrical subsystem and a compact lithium-ion battery, which is regenerated through recuperation when coasting, provide power for the innovative E-Turbo.

The exterior is set apart by a wide 68-inch track wide in the front and rear, angular widebody fenders, manually adjustable TT sport cup-style rear wing and 20-inch six twin-spoke wheels. The interior, meanwhile, has been fully caged, adding rigidity, and also features racing seats, four-point harnesses and even Audi virtual cockpit.

The TT clubsport quattro will be on display at Wörthersee from May 13th to the 16th, but if can’t make it to the lakeside Austrian town for the show, don’t worry. Audi will likely parade the concept around at different auto shows, and it may one day inspire a similar TT RS production model.

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