AUDI TTS IS RED HOT

Audi TT coupe was launched in Australia only six months ago with the roadster version arriving in July. The first of the high-performance variants, the TTS is now here, with both body types being released simultaneously.

Following on from a long history of true sporting machines dating back to the legendary Audi quattro S1 rally car, the all-new TTS has major revisions to its mechanical components, as well as visual changes.

So great are the changes to the 2.0-litre TFSI turbo-petrol in the standard TT models that it can almost be considered to be a different powerplant.

The bore and stroke remain the same, but a larger turbo can boost the pressure of air going into the engine by up to 1.2 bar. The cylinder head, valve springs and pistons have been modified, the conrods are beefed up, the bearings are stronger, as is the crankcase.

Keeping incoming air temperatures down is a major part of any high-performance turbo engine, so Audi engineers have gone for a high flow air-to-air intercooler. The result is 280 horsepower (210 kW in Australian terms) and torque of 380 Nm spread all the way from 1800 revs to 5200. Peak power starts at 5300 and runs through to 6200 rpm.

We found there to be an abundance of performance on tap at all times after minimal turbo lag had been overcome.

It goes without saying that all-wheel-drive is necessary to contain that sort of power and torque. Audi has long been a leader in what it calls quattro systems and the one used in the new TTS can direct as much as 100 per cent of the torque to the rear wheels when the car is being thrashed to its limits.

At other times the torque split is juggled in milliseconds to the correct wheels, aided by electronic traction controls that use magnetic ride dampers. Different modes can be selected according to driving conditions and the mood of the driver.

Audi engineers have chosen to use a six-speed dual-clutch transmission – S tronic in Audi speak. A seven-speed is used in other models, but may not be strong enough to handle the extra grunt from the 380 Nm engine.

Over half a second has been trimmed off the zero to 100 sprint compared with the outgoing TTS. The coupe now covers it in a breathtaking 4.7 seconds, the heavier roadster is just three tenths slower.

Can’t wait for the Audi TTRS, which is rumoured to have 400 horsepower, 300 kW…

There’s no point in having significantly more power if you don’t provide bigger brakes to keep it all under control. All the more so if track days are part of your sporting life. The front brakes are internally ventilated. During some very hard driving on a 10-km hillclimb (up and down) they did get pretty hot, but never looked like losing their effectiveness.

Note that if you want the brake calipers in red paint Audi has the cheek to charge an extra $900.

Externally, the TTS is 10 mm lower than the standard TT and uses the now traditional twin chromed horizontal bars on the grille. The lower hexagonal grilles are even bigger and bolder than the standard ones. Aluminium look door mirrors certainly tie in with the heritage and engineering of the car.

Naturally, the fuel flap on the shoulder sports the characteristic TT design with embossed TT logo. Six bolts connect the external ring of the fuel flap to the body. It opens with a tap and there’s no cap under the cover. The fuel nozzle is inserted directly into the tank neck, race-car fashion.

The wing-shaped ‘virtual cockpit’ instrument panel of the new generation Audis is simply brilliant. It’s angled towards the driver and can show different views. Our preferred one for the high-performance driving section of the TTS on closed roads had the tacho in the centre of the screen. Later, when cruising gently back to Melbourne airport we had a large satellite navigation map over the full width of the screen with small speedo and tacho readouts in the corners.

This screen acts not only as the instrument panel, but also the Audi MMI (Multi Media Interface) display unit.

Note that this is the Audi TTS, not the confusingly names TT S-line that we road tested last week. The TTS is a pure sports machine for the very serious driver, the S-line, is aimed more at the cruiser than the bruiser.

With before on-road tags of $99,900 for the coupe and $103,900 to get into roadster the TTS isn’t exactly cheap, but true driving enthusiast will appreciate what this machine offers.

By the way if you want to get into one of the original Audi S1 quattro rally cars you may be able to pick one up at an auction for around half a million big ones!