Audi has spun off the TTS as a more powerful,performance-tuned version of the Audi TT. The 2010 model is unchanged from 2009. Although it?s more than 300 pounds heavier than the TT,the 2010 Audi TTS has considerably faster acceleration,according to the automaker. The TTS offers two suspension settings: normal and Sport. Like the TT,the TTS is available as a 4-seat hatchback coup? or as a roadster. Top competitors include the BMW 135i and the BMW Z4.

Standard equipment on the 2010 Audi TTS includes a power soft top on the roadster and 50/50 split-folding rear seats on the coup?,as well as 18-inch wheels with summer performance tires,leather and faux suede upholstery,automatic rear spoiler,quad exhaust pipes,xenon headlights,automatic climate control,remote keyless entry,9-speaker sound system,Bluetooth connectivity,and electronically adjustable dampers. The Prestige package of options includes 19-inch wheels,heated power front seats,upgraded leather upholstery,DVD-based navigation system,and 12-speaker sound system with either a 6-disc CD changer or an iPod interface. As in the TT,upholstery is available with special baseball-glove-style stitching. The hatchback model provides 23 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats,according to Audi.

The 2010 Audi TTS features Quattro all-wheel drive and a turbocharged,2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 265 horsepower (65 more than the TT?s engine) and 258 lb.-ft. of torque (a jump of 51 lb.-ft. from the TT). A 6-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission can be used as a full automatic,or operated manually via the shift lever or steering-wheel-mounted paddles. Estimated gas mileage is 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway,according to the EPA.

Standard safety features on the 2010 Audi TTS include anti-lock disc brakes,traction and stability control,side air bags,and front knee air bags.

The 2010 Audi TTS starts at an MSRP of $45,900.