AUDI TT evolves in size and power but still very recognizable

The new 2008 Audi TT has retained the styling essence of the original but moved up in size and refinement.

It’s hard to believe that an all-new Audi TT is among us, as the freshness of the original model still lingers. Manufactured in Hungary, the new 2008 TT is distinguished by new familiar styling on a lightweight aluminum space frame construction, balanced handling and powerful power trains.

When Audi introduced the first generation TT in 1998, the swoopy chopped roof profile caused a major sensation in automotive design. Heads would do a double take wherever the TT was spotted. Its brilliant design has such classic lines that Audi wisely chose to offer continuity by evolving the lines to reflect a more modern look. Those with an eye for design will likely spend some time studying the new character lines and many details like the tail lamps and front fascia. Once again, Audi will offer the TT Roadster convertible with a fabric soft top. Most folks will probably find the Coupe styling more appealing as the chopped roofline offers a dramatic side profile.

As with all new models that evolve from their predecessors, the TT has grown longer, wider and taller, yet because of the extensive use of aluminum in the TT’s structure, the weight gains are limited to around 200 to 300 pounds. This helps to offset any major reduction in performance without the need to boost up power significantly.

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Getting in is a little easier than the previous claustrophobic low-slung TT, as the new model’s larger door opening is a bit more accessible. Once inside, occupants will notice a more spacious cockpit, thanks to the larger dimensions translating to more front and rear shoulder room and rear knee room, while the rear seats are more useful for carrying stuff instead of people. This is due to the low and sloping rear glass that essentially cuts off headroom. There is some practicality with the rear hatch configuration. With the rear seats folded flat, the luggage area is significantly increased. Of course, the Roadster, being a two-seater, offers less utility at the expense of open air motoring.

Just like the previous generation TT, the dramatic exterior design is reflected in the interior. New styling elements include three circular centre dash vents instead of two, a new gear shift knob and a smaller diameter steering wheel with a flat bottom design. Just as the previous TT, there’s aluminum trimming throughout the interior that offers plenty of detail for the eyes to study. There are highlights that help give the cabin a custom look unique to the TT. New, more aggressively shaped Recaro sport seats are welcome too, as they offer more support when it’s needed during banzai runs through your favourite corners. Those who like the baseball-stitched front seats will be pleased to hear that this will continue in the new Roadster. On the safety side, there are front seat side airbags as well.

Both the front-drive TT Coupe and Roadster are powered by Audi’s familiar 2.0-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engine with direct injection, and the all-wheel-drive TT Quattro, with the more potent 3.2-litre V6 under the hood. With 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque, the 2.0T offers responsive power delivery to the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. The 3.2-litre V6 is a carryover from the previous TT and delivers 250 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque through its standard six-speed manual to all four wheels. However, the 3.2 can also be mated to a newly refined version of Audi’s superb S tronic twin-clutch auto manual six-speed transmission.

AUDI TT SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 200/250-horsepower 2.0-litre 4-cylinder/3.2-litre V6
Transmission: 6-speed dual clutch
Drivetrain: Front-wheel-drive / Quattro All-Wheel-Drive
Suspension: Independent Front & Rear
Brakes: 4-wheel disc with ABS, Traction Control, Stability Control
Price: Coupe: $50,600 Roadster: $53,600

Capable of changing gears in milliseconds, the S tronic offers a manual setting that allows the driver to use steering wheel mounted shift paddles or the conventional shift lever. For heavy traffic conditions, there’s a Normal and a Sport setting. The Sport setting holds a selected gear longer before upshifts and provides earlier downshifts and shorter shifting times for optimum performance. A cool feature is the transmission blipping off the throttle to match engine revs when downshifting, which sounds really sweet to the ears.

In the chassis department, the all independent suspension, for both front-drive and Quattro models, offer Audi’s newly available magnetic ride shocks. The driver has a choice between Normal and Sport damping by selecting a button on the centre. This will be appreciated when driving on various road surfaces.

Recently released, the new Audi TT, based on a successful formula, has evolved into a more capable vehicle that appeals to a wider audience.