Daily Slideshow: Audi TT RS vs. Porsche Cayman S

Battle of the Titans

The Porsche Cayman S and the Audi TT RS are both top quality sports cars that deliver exemplary performance. However, for the most part, the Cayman S has been seen to be superior to the Audi TT RS in terms of performance. The Porsche Cayman S has long been considered as one of the best sports cars on the market. Its intriguing combination of sharp, communicative handling and explosive power has won over the hearts of many driving enthusiasts for years. The Audi TT RS, on the other hand, despite being a formidable foe, has had to fight off the just-a-pretty-face perception that the Audi TT has always had in high-performance circles. For 2018, with the new Audi TT RS,  Audi has sought to put an end to that perception once and for all and to challenge the reign of the Porsche 718 Cayman S. The 2018 Audi TT RS offers enhanced performance. It also boasts more aggressive styling, more advanced tech features, and more luxury than the 1st generation TT RS. It is also more powerful than the current Cayman S. Therefore, it begs the question: has the Audi TT RS finally outdone the mid-engine Porsche? Let’s find out by comparing both performance numbers and driving dynamics. 

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Audi TT RS: Performance Numbers

The Audi TT RS comes equipped with a more powerful version of the engine that was in the 1st generation TT RS – a turbocharged 2.5-liter 20-valve inline-5 engine rated at 400 horsepower at 7000 rpm and 354 lb-ft of torque at 1700 rpm. This engine pairs only with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Thanks in part to this car’s launch control feature, this engine is capable of propelling the Audi TT RS from zero to 60 mph in a blistering 3.2 seconds. It hits the ¼-mile mark in an equally impressive 11.6 seconds at a top speed of 119 mph. 

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Audi TT RS: Driving Dynamics

The Audi TT RS weighs just 3,277 pounds despite the fact that it comes equipped with an all-wheel-drive system, and this weight is distributed 60.5% to the front and 39.5% to the rear on account of its front-positioned engine. Thanks to this AWD system, this car enjoys extraordinary traction and control when cornering and accelerates from a stop at full speed with almost no wheel spin at all. The Audi TT RS also features a standard Audi magnetic ride suspension system that helps to enhance responsiveness and agility without compromising ride quality. This suspension has liquid-filled dampers that contain tiny magnetic particles which align themselves against the direction of motion of the damper. Thanks to this magneto-rheological fluid, this system is able to continuously adapt to prevailing road conditions, delivering a firm yet forgiving ride at all times. 

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Porsche 718 Cayman S: Performance Numbers

Unlike the Porsche Caymans of old that came equipped with a naturally aspirated flat-six engine, the current Porsche 718 Cayman S features a new turbocharged 2.5-liter 16-valve flat-four (boxer) engine that generates 350 hp at 6,500 rpm and 309 lb-ft of torque at 1,900-4,500 rpm. This engine pairs with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) automatic transmission, which is said to be one of the best automatic transmissions in the auto industry. When equipped with the 6-speed manual, this car sprints from zero to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. You can also count on it to hit the ¼-mile mark from a standstill in 12.4 seconds at a top speed of 115 mph. 

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Porsche 718 Cayman S: Driving Dynamics

The Porsche 718 Cayman S is rear-wheel-drive and weighs just 3,102 lbs. This car also features its mid-mounted engine and a rear-positioned transmission and limited-slip differential, thanks to which it boasts an impressive 44.6% front/55.4% rear weight distribution. Thanks to its lighter body and its more balanced weight distribution, the Porsche 718 Cayman S offers more neutral handling. It navigates through turns and corners like it was made for them, with outstanding control and very little body roll. The Cayman S can also slide or pivot with much greater ease thanks to this rear-wheel-drive drivetrain, and that makes for a truly fun and exhilarating driving experience. The Porsche 718 Cayman S can also be had with Porsche’s Active Suspension Management (PASM) – one of the best suspension management systems in the business. This system continuously monitors driving conditions and adjusts damping on each wheel in real time to achieve an optimal balance between responsiveness and superb ride quality.

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Verdict

It’s a given that the Audi TT RS is incredibly powerful, but truth be told, many driving enthusiasts who would be given the opportunity to choose between the two cars would go for the Porsche 718 Cayman S because of its superior handling and its generally more fun-to-drive nature. The Porsche 718 Cayman S makes its way around curves and corners more effortlessly, with cat-like stamina and road-hugging grip. Its engine delivers plenty of low-end torque with hardly any trace of turbo lag. Therefore, the Porsche 718 Cayman S is still the better sports car.

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