Ingolstadt Promoted to the Bundesliga

The first match for the newly minted Audi TT RS is against Porsche’s s lightly off form 718 Cayman S. Surely, it will never have a better chance...

- George Kacher

HATING TURBO CHARGED engines is kind of en vogue among purists these days. In 1979 when Saab introduced the blown 900 which destroyed chargers faster than front tyres, and when BMW launched the 2002 Turbo which created what felt like a 10-second throttle-lag, the world could not care less about artificial aspiration. Over 40 years later, though, at the height of the turbo era and on the eve of affordable electro-mobility, it’s not just hardcore car chaps mourning the passing of old-school drive trains. I consider myself part of this group, and I reluctantly admit that I wanted to hate Porsche’s new forced induction four-cylinder boxer engine, which has replaced the free-breathing six in the Boxster and Cayman. Also for lack of thrill and enthusiasm, we have been critical of the current breed of let me do this for you mate Audis. Androgynous, antiseptic and artificial are terms that come to mind when sampling these near-perfect but cold products from Ingolstadt. A case of personal preconceptions? Join us for a day of surprises, confirmations and new findings.

Anticlimax is the word that comes to mind when you twist the lozenge-shaped Porsche ignition key and start the engine the old-fashioned way. What disappoints is the noise generated behind our backs, a metallic jangle oddly reminiscent of an Oettinger tuned Beetle from way back when plenty of initial clatter and splutter, followed by a hoarse, uneven and atonal idle. We were hoping for a more extrovert performance, even though the tune does get catchie as you select a gear and add revs. There are 7,500 revolutions to play with, plus that optional extra-loud exhaust system acting as mobile ghetto blaster, and yet your ears will primarily feast on a dense mix of high decibel buzz and jarring rasp.