By: Dave Abrahams
The third-generation Audi TT Coupé, launched in South Africa this week, takes the best of the previous two iterations, adds a fresh helping of electronic wizardry and simmers gently to produce a very tasty little sports-car.
And it is little, just 4180mm long overall - almost exactly the same is its predecessor, although its wheelbase has been stretched 37mm to 2505mm, pushing the wheels further out towards the corners and shortening the overhangs.
It's 1832mm wide and the same height as the previous model at 1353mm, although strong horizontals make it look lower, particularly in front where the single-frame grille is much broader and flatter than before with a strong dividing line at 'eye level' and the four rings logo now on the bonnet, as on the new R8.
The Coupé's underbody is made of high-strength alloy steel, with extruded aluminium side sills and roof frame, and aluminium body panels. Only 17 percent of the body shell is steel, making it 50kg lighter than the previous model; the whole car weighs in at just 1230kg.
VIRTUAL FLIGHT DECK
But the big news is inside: an all-new flight deck that combines the usual instrument cluster and central display screen into one 12.3-inch TFT display with a resolution of 1440 x 540 pixels, in front of the driver.
In 'classic' mode, the speedometer and rev counter are in the foreground; in 'infotainment' the virtual dials are much smaller, making space for more graphic functions such as the navigation map.
All its functions can be controlled from the steering wheel; two toggles operate the satnav, telephone, radio and media menus, and there's a touchpad on top of the rotary pushbutton that can recognise characters handwritten with a fingertip.
The controls for the aircon - seat heating, temperature, direction, air distribution and air flow strength - are actually in the air-vents, with small displays to show the selected settings.
NUTS AND BOLTS
The new TT is available in South Africa in a choice of two versions, each with a direct-injection two-litre turbo-petrol four, rated for 169kW and 370Nm from 1600-4300rpm.
The front-wheel drive TT - with seven-speed S tronic transmission - will sprint to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds and on to an electronically limited 250km/h, with nominal fuel-consumption quoted at 6.3 litres per 100km.
The six-speed S tronic quattro TT, complete with flappy paddles, gets up to 100km/h in 5.3 seconds, is limited to the same top speed and is quoted at 6.8 litres per 100km.
The quattro drive is controlled by an electro-hydraulic multiplate clutch on the rear axle, with all-new software that continuously senses ambient conditions and driving status, networking with the drive select controls to suit your mood of the moment.
In 'auto' mode, it maintains optimum traction to keep the car pointed in the direction of the front wheels, while in 'dynamic' mode more drive is sent earlier to the rear axle for 'enhanced drving dynamics' (the most elegant euphemism we've heard yet for hooning!) especially on surfaces with low friction coefficients.
PRICING(includes five-year or 100 000km maintenance plan)
2.0T FSI S tronic - R558 000
2.0T FSI quattro S tronic - R642 000.
At the time of writing, Motoring Correspondent Jesse Adams was attending the local launch in Mpumalanga. Look out for his full report in the motoring section of The Star, Mercury or Cape Times next Thursday.