AUDI TT STILL TURNING HEADS

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When Peter Schreyer and his design team at Audi came up with the TT in the mid-1990s, it turned the compact sports car segment on its head. The helmet shaped two-door coupe was soon touted as being in line for classic status, honouring the original Volkswagen Beetle, even the Toyota Tarago ‘egg’.

The third generation TT, which landed in Australia recently, is no different. It still stands out in a crowd, arguably more so than the gen-two, which was a bit generic in its shape.

Importantly, weight has been shed. The skin of the new TT is aluminium, including the front guards, roof, bonnet, doors and rear hatch.

The mid-range 2.0 TFSI Sport quattro S tronic, at $77,950 provided, was our test car, which with extras was priced at $84,050 as tested.

STYLING
The new TT does hark back to the original design. The fuel flap on the shoulder sports the characteristic TT design with embossed TT logo. Six bolts connect the ring of the fuel flap to the body. This time around there is no fuel cap under the cover, rather the cap is built into the flap. The fuel nozzle is inserted directly into the tank neck in race car fashion.

The two large, round chrome-tipped tailpipes are closely spaced just like the first Audi TT. The same is true of the rounded rear window, the tail lights integrated into the body and the three-dimensional logo.

Audi_TT_coupe_rear

INTERIOR
Focus of the cabin is the wing-like instrument panel which is angled towards the driver. Characteristic TT round air vents incorporate all air-conditioning controls on their axes and also display the settings.

The absence of the traditional air-con control unit frees up space for an expansive Audi virtual cockpit, combining the instrument cluster and MMI monitor into a digital unit. Central to the Audi virtual cockpit is a 12.3-inch wide, high-resolution display producing high-contrast images.

The driver can switch between two interfaces using the ‘View’ button on the multifunction steering wheel. In ‘Progressive’ mode, a central window offers a big view of navigation map or for lists in the Phone, Radio and Audio areas.

The tachometer and speedometer are displayed as small dial instruments on the right and left. In the ‘Classic’ view, the middle window is smaller, and the instruments – with black scales, red needles and white numerals – are about the same size as typical analogue instruments.

Audi_TT_coupe_interior

INFOTAINMENT
The MMI system has been revised to ape smartphones where logic replaces static menu trees, and frequently used functions can be reached with just a few clicks.

The centre of the terminal continues to be the round rotary pushbutton, its surface is equipped with the touch-sensitive MMI touch. The touchpad is used to input characters and now also processes finger gestures.

Standard in the new coupe is the secondary collision brake assist, which is activated in the event of an accident. It can prevent the car from continuing to roll in an uncontrolled manner, and it activates the car’s interior lighting and hazard warning system.

Another standard feature is the rest recommendation, which lets the driver know when he is starting to get fatigued.

ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS
New Audi TT is powered by a 2.0-litre TFSI four-cylinder engine putting out 169 kW and 370 Nm with forced induction replacing displacement. It has direct injection and stop-start engine technology to minimise fuel use and emissions. The engine complies with the Euro 6 emission standards.

With the six-speed S tronic and quattro all-wheel drive, zero to 100 km/h comes up in just 5.3 seconds, with fuel consumption a claimed 6.4 litres per 100 kilometres in the combined urban / highway cycle and emissions of 149 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

The TT marks the first time the all-wheel drive system has been integrated into the Audi drive select system, where it considers steering angle while at the same time orienting on the operation of drive select and the electronic stabilisation control.

The clutch can already begin sending a portion of the torque to the rear axle when the driver turns enthusiastically into a bend. As soon as the driver steps on the accelerator, this torque presses the coupe smoothly into the corner with no initial understeer. The front axle straightens the car again when exiting the corner.

SAFETY
The latest TT has Matrix LED headlights, where the high beam is broken up into twelve small light-emitting diodes per headlight. There are two reflectors for two groups of five LEDs; two LEDs use another reflector.

The control unit, which communicates with a camera in the rear view mirror, switches the individual light-emitting diodes on and off or dims them in 64 steps, depending on the situation. The headlight system can produce several million light patterns. It prevents other road users from being blinded by glare, while ensuring the road ahead is always brightly illuminated.

Among myriad electronic stability and braking systems found in the modern car, standard equipment in the new TT includes the secondary collision brake assist, which is activated in the event of a crash. It can prevent the car from continuing to move in an uncontrolled manner. It also activates the car’s interior lighting and hazard warning system.

Another standard feature is the rest recommendation, which lets drivers know when the car senses they are starting to get fatigued.

DRIVING
Getting in to the TT needs some attention. Duck or you could pick up a bump to the bonce. Getting out can come at a stretch too.

The 2+2 seating means there is little leg room in the rear. It’s better to flip the seat back flat and make more room for luggage in the boot. With the backs up, there is still space for up to two weekend cases and a few small packages.

Front seats are comfortable and supportive. Visibility, especially to the rear, is all you could ask of a sleek sports coupe. The mirror is well matched with the acres of glass, uncharacteristic of a vehicle in this class.

The quattro all-wheel drive system gives the driver the confidence not to ease off, even on bends that tighten unnervingly.

In automatic mode, the six-speed S tronic changes gears in hundredths of a second with little noticeable power drop. In manual mode, which it can be operated using either the gearshift lever or steering wheel-mounted paddles, the driving style is satisfyingly sporty and the revs are higher.

The S tronic system has a fuel-saving freewheeling function activated when the Audi drive select system is set to efficiency mode and the driver eases off the accelerator. Launch Control with S tronic manages full acceleration from a standstill with controlled wheel slip.

The new coupe comes standard with progressive steering, rack geared to produce different boost ratios depending on the steering angle. Front disc brakes are vented. TT has an electromechanical parking brake.

SUMMING UP
From an eager anticipatory initial sighting to a fond farewell, the test Audi TT offered a pleasing, if selfish, driving experience. Audi has just introduced a 1.8 litre TFSI engine developing 132 kW to its TT range in Europe. It is under consideration for Australia.

AT A GLANCE

MODEL LINE-UP
TT Coupe 2.0 TFSI Sport manual $71,950
TT Coupe 2.0 TFSI Sport S tronic $74,950
TT Coupe 2.0 TFSI Sport quattro S tronic $77,950
TT Coupe 2.0 TFSI S line manual $78,450
TT Coupe 2.0 TFSI S line S tronic $82,450
TT Coupe 2.0 TFSI S line quattro S tronic $85,450
Metallic paint $1400
LED Headlights $2500
Assistance package (Side Assist, active lane assist, park assist, high beam assist, exterior mirrors heated, folding, auto dimming and kerbside function on passenger side) $2200
Note: These prices do not include dealer or government charges. Contact your local Audi dealer for drive-away prices.

FEATURES (Sport)
Audi virtual cockpit with multifunction sports steering wheel
MI Navigation plus with MMI touch, DVD player, 10GB music storage, live traffic and map updates
18-inch alloy wheels
Xenon plus headlights
LED daytime running lights
Convenience key
Electric front seats with electric lumbar support
Audi parking system plus (front and rear)
Alcantara and leather trim
Audi Drive select
Ambient interior lighting
Storage and luggage compartment package

(S line)
S line sport interior and exterior styling
S sport front seats in Alcantara and leather, with pneumatic bolsters
19-inch alloy wheels in titanium contrast design
Full LED headlights, including dynamic rear indicators
Audi sound system (5 channel amplifier, total output of 155W through 9 speakers and 2 subwoofers)
Digital radio

SPECIFICATIONS:
(2.0-litre TFSI inline four-cylinder spark-ignition engine with gasoline direct injection, exhaust turbocharger with intercooler, four-valve technology, double overhead camshafts
Capacity: 1984 cc
Bore and stroke: 82.5 mm x 92.8 mm
Compression ratio: 9.6:1
Maximum Power: 149 kW @ 4500-6200 rpm
Maximum Torque: 370 Nm @ 1600-4300 rpm
Emission rating: Euro 6

DRIVELINE:
Drivetrain: quattro permanent all-wheel drive with electronically controlled multi-plate clutch, electronic differential lock

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4177 mm
Width: 1832 mm
Height: 1353 mm
Wheelbase: 2505 mm
Track: 1572 mm (front); 1552 mm (rear)
Drag co-efficient: Cd 0.30
Tare mass: 1410 kg
Seating capacity: 2+2
Cargo capacity 305 litres / 712 litres (rear seat back folded)
Fuel Tank Capacity: 55 litres
Turning circle: 10.96 m

SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Suspension: McPherson struts with aluminium lower wishbones, aluminium pivot bearings, aluminium subframe, anti-roll bar, track-stabilising steering roll radius (front); Four-link rear suspension with separate spring/shock absorber arrangement, subframe, aluminium wheel carriers, tubular anti-roll bar (rear)
Brakes: Ventilated discs. Dual-circuit brake system with diagonal split, ESC with torque vectoring, hydraulic brake assist
Steering: Electromechanical steering with speed-dependent power assistance

PERFORMANCE
Acceleration 0 to 100 km/h: 5.3 sec
Top speed: 250 km/h

FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Fuel type: 95 RON unleaded
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 6.5 litres / 100 kilometres; CO2 emissions 151 g/km

GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 7.5 / 10
Air Pollution Rating: 7.5 / 10

WARRANTY:
Three years / unlimited kilometres

About Derek Ogden

On graduating with an honours degree in applied science in London, Derek Ogden worked for the BBC in local radio and several British newspapers as a production journalist and writer. Derek moved to Australia in 1975 and worked as a sub-editor with The Courier Mail and Sunday Mail in Brisbane, moving to the Gold Coast Bulletin in 1980 where he continued as a production journalist. He was the paper's motoring editor for more than 20 years, taking the weekly section from a few pages at the back of the book to a full-colour liftout of up to 36 pages. He left the publication in 2009.
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