Audi TT Coupé
Advanced Technology
With its rounded bubble forms and striking looks the Audi TT is a distinctly German take on the classic 2+2 roadster format. Where the British and Italians remain true to tradition and even the Japanese try to emulate it, German car manufacturers such as Audi break the mould and bring the genre into the 21st century. You can’t do this without breaking a few eggs, and the TT did cause quite a stir when it first appeared in the late 90s. At first, opinions were polarised regarding this quirky newcomer, but even the doubters have long since been won over, seduced by the sheer power, technology and modern style of this fun yet never frivolous car.
As we known, the Germans don’t do frivolity very well, and with a company ethos built around Vorsprung durch Technik, or the desire to lead the field through technological superiority, it is hardly surprising to find the little TT packs big Audi punch. It wasn’t so long ago that the four rings of Audi didn’t have quite the impact of the famous Mercedes star or the much-desired blue and white emblem of BMW, but building on its technological prowess Audi have been able to join the world’s select group of leaders in the luxury car segment. It is quite a feat, achieved in less than 20 twenty years and established on the back of Audi’s build quality, razor-edge design and engines that aim to deliver the unachievable—optimal reliability, practicality and the kind of inspiring drive that keeps ‘em coming back.
No use making a near-perfect car if it’s boring, so if the designers and engineers at Ingolstadt are careful to add a healthy dose of sex-appeal to their perfectly rational saloons and estates you can imagine what fun they had creating the TT. Not quite the successor of the celebrated Audi Quattro series, which were more cut back saloons featuring World Rally Championship performance, the TT is a compact 2+2 roadster made for fun on the road and stylish sporty good looks off it. In that sense, it seems to revive the spirit of another advanced little sports car, the Opel GT of the early 70s. Like the GT, this is a great fashion accessory featuring the latest in hot styling that will look great with a trendy designer outfit on your shoulders and a cheeky grin on your face.
But naturally the Audi TT is far more than a fashion statement alone. Tight, compact and beefy, it redefines the look and feel of a 2+2, giving this segment a 21st century heir to the MGs and Healeys of the 60s. Decidedly contemporary, with looks that just will not age, this great work of automotive design is as trendy within as it is on the outside. Sit yourself before its instrumentarium and the urge to put your put foot down, roar along with the engine and fling yourself into tight corners is hard to resist. The black dashboard, accentuated with chunky aluminium detailing, the metal pedals, sporty steering wheel and short gear lever are all rather masculine, although this is a car that appeals to sporting types in both sexes.
As with all modern cars there are lots of available extras, but with a car of this kind it’s not about extras. If that’s your thing get a Hyundai; the Audi TT is there to be driven! In the true tradition of 2+2 roadsters, the majority of engine options involve a relatively humble 1800cc, so don’t expect a Ferrari-style ride. Having said that, if you opt for the top-of-the-range 3.2 litre Quattro, this powerful engine in a little body will hurl you around like a bucking horse, with the 250 horsepower engine electronically limited to a top speed of 250 kilometres per hour. More popular, however, is the 1.8 litre Quattro, which sticks to the 1800cc format but exchanges the tight front wheel drive of the standard TT for the road-sucking performance of Audi’s famous four-wheel traction.
Strange that a company who rate among the pioneers of front wheel driven vehicles should have become so adept at producing four-wheel driven ones, but this 4wd will allow you to do things which I wouldn’t recommend in a jeep. Like aiming for a bend and tapping the accelerator instead of the brakes. Sure, the Audi TT is fun down the long straight of the motorway, but unlike the big Grand Tourers 2+2s are not natural long-distance cruisers. Try to drive to Alicante in one and you’ll definitely know where your kidneys are located, but take it to its natural habitat, following the tight, successive curves of country roads, and you’ll see why Audi have won so many rally titles. Its low centre of gravity and tight setting give the TT formidable road holding, but add permanent Quattro four-wheel drive and this car will let you steer into fast bends at an alarming rate, holding true to its line with amazing sure-footedness.
While I don’t advocate reckless driving, the Audi TT is one of those cars that take the element of Russian roulette out of sharp cornering, proving that state-of-the-art technology and good old-fashioned driving fun can be successfully united. In town, it’s a well-behaved practical car, making for a very complete package. Indeed, if there is one criticism I have it’s that the TT looks so good in town, it seems a pity to take it out of it.
