Audi insider: U.S. likely to receive TT-RS and RS5

The hotly-anticipated TT-RS will hit showrooms in Europe by the middle of the year but ask Audi when it will arrive in the U.S. and the only answer you will likely receive is that it’s still under consideration. A similar response can be expected for the even more extreme RS5, scheduled to be revealed for the first time at the end of the year, but given the halo status of these two models Audi would be foolish to ignore the U.S. market.

An inside source at Audi has offered a glimmer of hope, claiming the chances of the TT-RS and RS5 hitting U.S. showrooms is very high. Speaking with MotorTrend, the insider explained that Audi traditionally staggers the launches of its different model variants to keep excitement going.

The TTS and updated S5 Coupe and new Cabrio have just been launched so Audi doesn’t want the high-performance RS models coming in and stealing all the limelight – not yet anyway. According to the insider, the most likely launch for the TT-RS in the U.S. will be towards the end of the year, while the RS5 won’t roll in until sometime next year.

Chances for the range-topping RS6 are slim, however. Emissions testing is the culprit, since the RS6's twin-turbo V10 powerplant just isn't clean enough to make a reasonable business case. Powertrain options for the RS5 remain cloaked in secrecy but one of the primary options - and a likely one given the status of Audi's U.S. emissions plans - is to take the 4.2L V8 from the RS4 and tune it a bit more violently, for about 450hp (335kW). Pairing the V8 with a dual-clutch S-tronic gearbox would also make sense given the RS5's market position. Expect to see the RS5 make its world debut at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show.