Audi TT Clubsport 2.5-Liter TFSI with Electric Turbo Revealed in First Official Video

We've seen electric turbos on Audis before, on the RS5 TDI concept, but this is the first they've added one to a TFSI petrol-burner, a cool one at that. This is technically the same 2.5-liter you get with the RS3, but output has been dramatically increased.

From 367 PS, the 2.5-liter now deliver 600, making this TT concept car more powerful than an RS6 or even the S63 AMG. However, we have to ask if this is the future of the TT-RS or is it just a funk concept?

There have been several issues that stopped the electric turbo from going into production. For starters, it drinks electricity at an alarming rate. That's fine if the engine has boost issues like a TDI diesel, but the 2.5-liter TFSI has immediate pickup and delivery.

The electricity has to come from somewhere too. If you only make short trips and play with the throttle a lot, it's going to drain the battery very quickly, which is probably why the e-turbo is on a separate 48V circuit. It's fed by a compact lithium-ion battery in the luggage compartment while the energy is recuperated only when coasting.

As a fan of the 3rd-generation TT coupe, this concept makes me quite happy because it shows how dedicated Audi is to getting maximum performance from a compact car. Considering the first TT was a re-bodied Golf 4, it's amazing to think we're looking at a 600 horsepower version that can reach 100 km/h in 3.6 and has a top speed of 310 km/h (192.6 mph).

But is it the future of the TT-RS? Not the one that's coming out soon; maybe the next one.