SPY PICS: Audi TT RS in the wild

Instagram user, autogespot_spain, has posted the first pictures of what’s believed to be a completely undisguised Audi TT RS coupe while it was being refuelled on what’s thought to have been a photoshoot.

It’s still not been confirmed what exactly will power what’s bound to be the most powerful and fastest TT ever made, but the safe money is the RS version will come with the same 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo that powers the current RS 3 hatch.

That means the TT RS could come with the same 270kW/465Nm that, in the five-door hatchback body, sees the RS 3 sprint to 100km/h in just 4.3 seconds.

In the lighter TT body, the flagship RS coupe should shave at least two-tenths off the 0-100km/h time, but the TT RS could be faster still if persistent rumours are believed.

Some suggest the new MQB-based TT RS will come with even more power, possibly in excess of 300kW.

If that’s the case, according to sources close to Audi, the current 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo will be ruled out because it’s already said to be at its very limit for power and torque output in the RS 3 application.

Instead, Audi could give the TT RS the all-new turbocharged five-cylinder it teased last May 2015 at the annual Wothersee VW fan meet.

Despite sharing the same 2.5-litre swept capacity, the engine that powered the TT Clubsport Turbo concept was claimed to share absolutely nothing with the RS 3’s engine.

Packing not one, but two, electrically-driven turbochargers that recently made their public debut under the bonnet of the big SQ7 SUV, the concept TT boasted a mighty 441kW/650Nm.

Any production version is expected to have power turned down to save the fastest ever TT making the firm’s R8 supercar redundant, however.

Unsurprisingly, in the lightweight Clubsport concept the TT could reach 100km/h from standstill in just 3.6 seconds and has a claimed top speed of 310km/h.

Supported by a dedicated 48-volt electrical system, the compact lithium ion batteries stored in the boot are charged with energy recuperated when coasting.

Interestingly, that show car also came with a conventional six-speed manual instead of a dual-clutch box; this would follow the tradition of the fastest TT RS models being offered with a manual gearbox, although the seven-speed dual-clutch tranny could be offered for the first time on the TT RS.

More is expected to be revealed in the coming months, with a potential reveal at the New York motor show at the end of this month.