Audi's hottest TT spied on the road, expected to get tweaked version of RS3's engine with over 350bhp

Audi 's stylish third-generation TT is about to become less of a poser and more of a bruiser, as our spies have spotted the hotter RS variant on test ahead of its 2016 launch.

is about to become less of a poser and more of a bruiser, as our spies have spotted the hotter RS variant on test ahead of its 2016 launch. It should receive well over 350bhp from a 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo engine.

It'll share the same storming powertrain as the new RS3mega hatch, but power could be upped further to move it away from the current 306bhp TT S. Four-wheel drive will help it fire off the line, and the 0-62mph time could even dip below the magical four-second mark.

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At a quick glance this car looks like a run-of-the-mill TT in disguise, but look closely and you'll spot a few key differences. There's a beefed-up front bumper with revised air intakes, the familiar RS oval twin exhausts, RS brake callipers and vented and drilled brakes. We expect the finished product to get a less-than-subtle rear spoiler like the old TT RS.

In terms of pricing, we can expect the TT RS to kick off from around £45,000 - a £6,000 increase on the TT S. There's every possibility of an RS Plus model in 2017, with power edging towards 400bhp and a near-£50,000 pricetag.

Read our review of the old Audi TT RS Coupe here...