Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Audi’s clubsport turbo technology concept previews the future of forced induction

By

Audi will trek out to the annual Wörthersee show that will kick off next week in Austria to show a brand new concept called TT clubsport turbo technology.

The clubsport turbo technology concept is one of the most muscular-looking TTs Audi has ever built, and it packs a heavy punch to back up its looks. Power for the coupe comes from a 2.5-liter five-cylinder TFSI engine that uses two large electric turbochargers to make 600 horsepower – roughly twice the output of a 2016 TTS – and 479 foot-pounds of torque from 3,000 all the way to 7,000 rpm. Power is sent to all four wheels via a six-speed manual transmission and Audi’s famed quattro all-wheel drive system.

Audi boldly promises the electric snails virtually eliminate turbo lag. As a result, the clubsport turbo technology concept can sprint from zero to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, while the straight-five screams all the way to 192 mph. Carbon ceramic brakes safely bring the action to a stop.

The extra power is complemented by an aggressive look that pays a discreet homage to 90 IMSA GTO that raced during the 1980s. Starting with a stock third-gen TT coupe, Audi has added large fender flares with vents designed to cool the brakes, a new bumper with big air inlets and vertical fins, Matrix LED headlights and a manually-adjustable rear wing. The front splitter, the rear air diffuser and the fender flares are all crafted out of carbon fiber.

The cockpit has been spruced up with a pair of bucket seats upholstered in orange Alcantara, four-point racing harnesses, a motorsport-inspired three-spoke multi-function steering wheel and a track-focused version of Audi’s fully digital virtual cockpit. A sprinkling of real carbon fiber trim adds a sporty touch to the overall ambiance.

Audi is not expected to give the TT clubsport turbo technology the green light for production anytime soon, the concept was built only to be displayed at the Wörthersee show. However, look for the coupe’s electric twin turbos and the 48-volt electrical sub-system that powers them to make their way under the hood of regular-production Audis in the next year or so.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon
Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Mercedes-Benz G580 first drive: old-school off-roader goes electric
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

American car buyers mostly know Mercedes-Benz as a luxury brand. But for decades, the automaker has also produced the tough, rugged G-Class (also known as the Geländewagen or G-Wagen), an SUV not afraid to get its leather upholstery muddy. And now, this iconic Mercedes is going electric.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology — the final name of the SUV previously known as the EQG — isn’t the first electric off-roader. The Rivian R1S and R1T and GMC Hummer EV have proven that electric powertrains and off-roading are a great combination. But the electric G-Wagen is different because it’s based on an internal-combustion model — and a very traditional one at that.

Read more
Honda believes hydrogen semi trucks will make the case for fuel cells
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck.

Honda remains committed to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but the market for those vehicles remains limited. So Honda is looking at other uses for fuel cells -- including commercial trucks.

To show how that could work, Honda converted a semi truck to fuel-cell power, replacing its diesel engine with three fuel-cell modules. Together, the three modules produce a combined 321 horsepower, and can propel the truck to a top speed of 70 mph. There's enough onboard hydrogen storage capacity for a 400-mile range with a full load, Honda claims.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz G580 vs Rivian R2: Is the much cheaper Rivian actually better?
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the wraps off of the new "Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology." Yeah, it's a mouthful, but it's basically a new electric G-Wagon. It looks a lot like the G-Wagon you know and love, but with an electric powertrain and a battery. It's not the only electric SUV out there, however, and there are some great ones -- like the Rivian R2.

Both the Mercedes G580 and the Rivian R2 have a lot going for them, but they also approach the electric SUV slightly differently. Is one better than the other? I put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The approach that the two vehicles take to design is quite different -- and you might like one better than the other.

Read more