Audi TT Clubsport quattro: Redefining Compact Performance

Motoring Channel Staff - 22/May/2007

Ingolstadt, Germany — It's lean, it's low, and it looks like a chopped TT. But before you get out your wallet, bear in mind that at this stage Audi has made no firm commitment to build this model, calling the design a 'study' that may influence future designs. 

However, the German company has qualified that the possibility of a small-series production run of this model is being considered.

Unlike the TT Roadster and Coupe, which are fairly dedicated sports car in their own rights, the TT clubsport quattro is even more focussed on sport. Don't expect any of the niceties of modern driving, like boot space, fuel economy or cheap servicing. This a vehicle with one thing in mind - performance.

Understandably, Audi explains the Audi TT clubsport quattro study reduces the TT Roadster to a pure driving machine. With its jelly bean profile and large wheels, it grabs your attention like a unique kit car, and is powered by a 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that drives through an AWD quattro gearbox. Just don't get caught out in the rain, because the roof is non-existent...

The German automaker explains that the goal the development engineers set themselves for this vehicle study was to achieve 'purism' at a premium level. No hood, no A-pillar. Instead, a wraparound windscreen kept extremely low which deliberately evokes images of a speedster, a flat, slightly tinted window strip surrounds the cockpit. It evokes images of a bygone automotive era, and to that end Audi is perhaps hoping to gauge the reaction in customers that this new design provokes.

The panoramic windscreen and the two buttresses located behind the interior in place of the hood compartment are reminiscent of a racing car. The rollover bars familiar from the TT Roadster are kept flatter and are the same height as the sports bucket seats.

Audi points out that the front end is dominated by the single-frame grille which has aluminium inserts to give its design a horizontal emphasis and this makes the TT clubsport quattro appear even flatter than it already is. The four rings of the logo are not located in the grille as on most Audi models, but on the bonnet. A sign of things to come?

The large air inlets in the front end supply additional air to the more potent TFSI engine while LED daytime running lights provide an eye-catching highlight at all times of day. 

The visible stainless steel rear silencer is the most striking feature in the rear bumper where the dual-branch exhaust system with its oval tips calls to mind the sporty Audi production models such as the RS 4. The blade under the rear silencer visibly underscores the vehicle's sports character.

There is a deliberate lack of visual interruptions in the side line and you will look in vain for door handles. The TT clubsport quattro is opened by remote control because the doors spring open at the press of a button and the size of the two exterior mirrors has also been minimised in keeping with its retro design. 

Large 20-inch wheels with tyres of size 265/30 R20 emphasise the car's muscular appearance claims Audi, as does its track width which has been increased by a total of 80 millimetres compared with a production TT. Not only that, but the wheel arches have also been enlarged additionally.

The concept study car is painted Daytona Grey, a colour that Audi used for the first time on the RS 4 and the S8. The exterior design features dark shades of grey and this forms a contrast with the metallic elements, with the grille and side grille in Gun Metal, a steely colour which imbues the TT clubsport quattro with a look which is both sporty and pure.

The brake calipers, the orange colour of which links the exterior design to the interior, provide a bold visual contrast and these bright colour highlights also provide attractive visual touches in the interior, on elements such as the instrument cowl, the armrest and on the back of the bucket seats. 

The black leather seat itself also boasts a special feature in the shape of a laser pattern worked into the seat, and Audi explain that this was specially designed for the TT clubsport quattro and plays on the TT logo.

The racing character of the Audi TT clubsport quattro is underscored by its technology, and for the first time showcases the most powerful version of Audi's 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine yet. 

The Audi engineers have packed the 2.0 TFSI engine with even more power than the 190kW (260hp) block from the Audi S3. The turbocharged 4-cylinder unit with petrol direct injection breaks the magic 300hp barrier, which is about 220kW in the metric scale. 

Thanks to a modified intake manifold, it has been possible to get even more power out of this highly efficient engine (which was “Engine of the Year” in its class in 2005 and 2006). Power is transferred to all four wheels, making the TT clubsport quattro the first new-generation TT with 4-cylinder engine and quattro permanent four-wheel drive.

The transmission is also new in this performance category. Thanks to its dual clutch, the S tronic direct-shift gearbox changes gear virtually without interrupting the flow of power, a process that Audi claims goes unnoticed by the driver. The six gears can, however, also be changed manually, with gearshifts taking just fractions of a second.

Audi says that anyone who opens the bonnet will be met by a fascinating sight, because the lack of cables and auxiliaries means the engine bay looks extremely clean. 

The engine has deliberately not been hidden under a cover, and the cross brace running above the engine is a technical stroke of genius. It not only makes the car more rigid, but also contains the coolant expansion tank. 

The ABS system has been moved from the engine compartment to the interior and the air conditioning and activated charcoal filter are not to be found in the engine compartment either. A racing air filter ensures that the engine takes in a less restricted amount of air and the exhaust system has been adapted to suit the car's sporty performance: the specially tuned exhaust will emit the genuine sound of motor racing according to Audi.

As well as V6-eclipsing power levels, the clubsport quattro is the first TT model to be fitted with ceramic brakes. These are absolutely non-fading and enable countless sharp braking manoeuvres without any loss of stopping power. Currently, the expensive ceramic brakes are already offered for the RS 4, the A8 and S8, for example, and are enjoying increasing popularity with customers Audi says.

The sports character demonstrated by the exterior design is continued inside the car, where purism was also the driving element, and naturally racing bucket seats are provided for both occupants. Together with 4-point safety harnesses, these offer both driver and passenger excellent support, even in extreme driving situations such as on a closed circuit. 

The generous use of aluminium is characteristic of Audi. This starts with the steering wheel which is adorned with a twin spoke crafted from this lightweight metal. The pedals are also made of aluminium and exhibit a grooved structure. They consequently not only afford a better grip, but also help to save weight. Foot rests are provided for both driver and passenger in the TT clubsport quattro.

The gear lever gate adopted from the new mid-engined sports car, the Audi R8, and the aluminium gear knob are a joy to behold. This lightweight metal is also used for the door pull and the door opener, both of which are cut-out, a feature which further underlines the interior’s purist character.

The sill area has also been restyled compared with the production model. Rather than being interrupted by a sill strip, it now emphasises the width of the car. A new door sill trim located further inside the car, along with floor mats sporting the TT logo as an aluminium inlay provide further visual highlights. The surrounding strip on the top shoulder is also made of this lightweight metal.

The Audi designers came up with a special idea in the field of entertainment. Instead of the middle of the three round air vents in the upper part of the dashboard, they integrated an interface here, designed among other things for the B&O MP3 player BeoSound 2. The round player built by Audi's premium partner fits exactly into the circular opening and is a sheer delight for the senses, both visually and acoustically.

The instrument cluster is very different from the one in a production model TT as the vertical needles and colour graphics are the eye-catching features. The clock and odometer have been omitted in keeping with the car's underlying purist philosophy.

According to Audi, the TT clubsport quattro is a purist driving machine that combines the performance of a sports car with a unique design language. It consequently remains a TT on the one hand, while at the same time demonstrating just what is possible with such a fascinating production vehicle. The possible small-series production of this model is being considered.

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