Mpumalanga - As far as sporty coupé styling goes, Audi’s TT has always been a little left of centre. Picture a meeting full of slick grey suits and preened sideparts, and the TT is the guy who shows up in a blazer over blue jeans. He still conducts himself with utmost professionalism, but he’s bucking the dress code in favour of a relaxed look he can wear straight to the country club after work.
Instead of the serious-looking, swept-back profile of its two closest German competitors (Z4 and SLK), the TT has instead featured a more playful and bubbly design over the past 17 years. It’s not an easy task to retain an iconic design such as the 1998 TT’s when developing a new model, but Audi did a fine job with the second version in 2006, and again it’s made a car instantly recognisable as a successor to the original with this latest, third-generation model. More modern, more aerodynamic in appearance, but still very TT.
For more pictures of the new Audi TT, click here.
Now, before you slap me with the convertible argument, I know the BMW and Mercedes rivals come with drop-tops only. The new TT also comes in roadster guise but Audi South Africa has opted not to make it available in our market because previous TT sales leaned heavily in favour of hard-roofed variants. This also gives the new model a unique selling point as the only pure-bred coupé in this specific (premium) segment – with the possible exception of the more expensive Porsche Cayman.
As with both previous TT generations the new one shares its basic floorplan with other current MQB platform-based models such as the Golf 7 and the entire A3 range. This predictably means it shares its drivetrain as well, and up front is the same two-litre turbo and six-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox as in the latest GTI and S3. The TT, though, gets a specific power output of 169kW and 370Nm to differentiate it performance-wise from its closest family members.
Audi has kept the line-up simple with only two choices: front, or all-wheel drive. The cheaper front-wheel driven TT claims a 0-100km/h time of 5.9 seconds while the added traction of the quattro model lowers this to 5.3; each derivative is limited to 250km/h top speed. A manual gearbox won’t be offered in SA, but an entry-level 1.8 turbo might be introduced in 2016 if there’s enough demand. A faster TTS model is also planned for July, and in around 18 months we can expect the TTRS flagship.
VIRTUAL COCKPIT
Inside, the new TT gets some seriously hi-tech kit. Its trademark “Virtual Cockpit” replaces a traditional needle-based instrument cluster with a digital display screen – its pièce de résistance being a full-colour navigation map taking up the place where speedometer and rev counter would normally go.
It’s as wildly flashy as it is useful, but I must say the move to completely delete a central dashboard infotainment hub from the car is a little questionable. Every last function, from destination input, to bass and treble adjustment, to simple radio-station changes, is the sole responsibility of the driver now, with passengers relinquishing all duty barring volume control and which direction the airconditioning blows. This might take some getting used to.
But, while on the topic of airconditioning, the TT also comes with an ingenious way of operating the climate control system. The three circular vents positioned centrally in the dash get little digital displays inside them for fan, temperature and direction settings. Very clever.
For an outright sports coupé the TT is a comfortable cruiser, and even with optional 19-inch rims it handled Mpumalanga’s potholed roads with great composure at last week’s SA press launch.
Performance-wise it fits in right where it should – below the more powerful S3 and just about on par with the 162kW Golf GTI. Of course this car will appeal to a different buyer, as its lack of interior and boot space will limit passenger and cargo carrying ability. There is a back seat, but it’s hardly usable.
The TT’s all-wheel-drive system gives it a sure-footedness typical to quattro Audis, but I wouldn’t say the cheaper front-wheel-drive version’s any less eager to perform.
In fact it’s quite a lively car when pushed hard and with such a significant saving over the quattro it’ll likely be the more popular option. Each variant comes with plenty of goodies as standard, including the Virtual Cockpit screen, keyless entry, cruise control and... finally (in an Audi) a USB port.
PRICES
2.0T FSI S tronic - R558 000
2.0T FSI quattro S tronic - R642 000 - Star Motoring
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