SPARE a thought for the plucky Audi TT. The swoopy little coupe soldiers bravely on, despite globally softening sports car sales, serving up a combination of two-door, two-plus (not really)-two yuks and sedately turbocharged four-cylinder goodness for almost twenty years.

There have been a few exceptions to the rule over the years, culminating in the final fling for the second generation TT, 2012’s RS Plus. Thanks to a 2.5-litre 20-valve turbo five-potter boasting some serious heritage, it offered 265kW and 465Nm, and punched out the dash to 100km/h in 4.1 seconds.

Handy. In fact, it’s the engine that essentially defines the TT RS; stick a turbocharged four-cylinder thing under the bonnet, and its mojo would be gone.

2017 Audi TT RS front

The new engine –also seen under the bonnet of the RS3 – now weighs an astonishing 26kg less. Twenty. Six. It now makes more power (294kW) and more torque (480Nm) than the previous engine, too, with a flat torque curve and, unusually for a turbo engine, a high power peak.

2017 Audi TT RS engine

Thumb the red button on the wheel, and the five-potter responds with an agreeably strident bark from its dual pipes.

Its rich, warm baritone belies its turbo origins, and is made louder by the stock switchable bi-modal exhaust. No artificial augmentation is present – or needed.

2017 Audi TT RS interior

On a wettish road loop, the TT RS reveals itself as a calm, competent and confident back road companion with a little bit of attitude.

Not a lot, mind – the aural theatre of the staccato exhaust and the muscular delivery of the five-pot motor aren’t quite matched by the benign, restrained attitude of the TT’s MQB-based underpinnings. It’s got loads of ability, sure, but it faithfully awaits inputs and direction, rather than leading from the helm.

2017 Audi TT RS dash

The relatively unsophisticated Haldex all-wheel-drivetrain does its best to feed torque to where it’s needed, but its outputs are granular and obvious, somewhat negating the TT’s low centre of gravity, wide tracks and minimal overhangs.

Push the 20-inch Pirelli P Zeros too hard and the front end cedes first, electronic intervention stepping in surprisingly late in the game.

2017 Audi TT RS

Its chassis works with you when you’re stroking it along, too, flowing from one turn to the next, with the adaptive dampers crashing only through the sharpest of bumps.

2017 Audi TT RS rear

All that, and it’s cheaper (and lighter) than the last version of the TT RS. In fact, it’s a downright bargain for a sub four-second all-paw car with 270kW of aural attitude and genuine badge cachet.

LIKES

Serious firepower for not a lot of cash

DISLIKES

Could be more engaging chassis-wise

Specs:

Engine 2480cc 5cyl, DOHC, 20v, turbo

Power 294kw @ 5850–7000rpm

Torque 500Nm @ 1700–5850

Weight 1440kg

0-100km/h 3.7sec (claimed)

Price $137,500 (7spd auto)