Road Test: Audi TT 2.0 TFSI

Review by Feann Torr - 26/June/2007

What started off as a concept car at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany is today an automotive icon. Arguably one of Audi's most recognisable models, the TT name has been around for almost a decade yet has until recently resisted any major changes. 

After driving the second generation TT which is bigger, faster and more sophisticated, it's evident the 2-door sports car has evolved.

For starters, the iconic 'TT' body shape has a fetching new style but Walter de’ Silva, Audi's chief designer, made sure that it would still be recognised as a TT from 50 paces. It's been voted the most beautiful car in the world, and also Germany's most popular car. Clearly, people like the TT. But on top of the smooth new style, the TT coupe is larger than the original model (which taller drivers will appreciate), is better equipped, more powerful, features improved safety systems and also gets a clever suspension setup that can switched between 'sports' and 'comfort' modes at the touch of a button.

The TT is coming of age, and the car's position in the Audi garage is an important one. It's not quite as exotically rare as the new mid-engined R8 sports car, but it adds a sparkle to the Audi range, is more attainable, and in some ways will never be rivalled thanks to its originality.

The range starts at $68,900 for the 4-cylinder turbo model with a 6-speed manual, but we're testing the slightly dearer (and quicker) $72,500 4-cylinder turbo TT, which gains a tricked-up S-Tronic automatic dual-clutch gearbox with race-car inspired steering wheel paddle shifters.

One thing that's pretty obvious about the TT is that it's not the most practical car in the world. It's an image car first and foremost, and the second generation model is a more focussed performance car too. It's got more herbs and spices than its predecessor and is a much nicer thing to drive. True, it may be front-wheel drive (there is a quattro AWD version available for just under $90k) but with its short wheelbase it handles well and most importantly it attracts attention. How much attention? Let's find out:

A brief first drive from Audi's media car depot to the Wombat HQ proved beyond any doubt that the new TT turns heads. Together with an intriguing body shape that sits close to the road, the TT is sporty, trendy, and highly desirable. 

A lot of people won't care that this vehicle has the performance to back up its good looks - only that it communicates a specific message. Namely: "I've got style". Ultimately, that's the crux of what a lot of people want.

Thankfully for us performance nuts (and the pragmatists too) the TT is a huge improvement on its predecessor in almost every way. During this first initial drive, it sliced through commuter traffic with practiced ease. The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and S-Tronic gearbox provide the sporty coupe with plenty of thrust and it's dwarven 4.17 metre length and speed sensitive steering mechanism make switching lanes effortless.

Taking a moment to walk around the Audi TT, you can see that it's a smooth, sleek vehicle, but with a serious looking front end - replete with single-frame grille - that says it's no pussy cat either. The low roof line adds a level of mystique to the vehicle and like the first generation TT this one will probably remain unchanged for another six or seven years. You don't create an icon by constantly changing the design.

Viewed from the side the new car is unmistakably TT, what with the long bonnet, rounded roof line, and stubby rear end. Flared wheel arches add a touch of machismo to proceedings and there are other subtle changes that won't completely alienate previous owners, but manage to effectively modernise the cars mercurial style.

There aren't too many cars I've driven that manage to generate such an aura of intrigue, but the TT seems to do strange things to people. The emotional reaction from bystanders generally went one of two ways: people would stand and stare, heads turning to follow its sleek lines, or glance at the vehicle for a moment before walking into a light pole or rubbish bin.

From the rear the car has plenty of smooth style as well, and the brake light design in particular looks sensational, mirroring the design seen on the exotic Audi R8 sports car with staggered rectangular elements.

Step inside the TT and you're greeted with a contemporary and sporty design, on par with the swish exterior. Ergonomics are good - you never have to stretch for any of the controls - and the seats are great. As well as soft touch dash plastics and smooth leather upholstery, everything looks the part. The seats are one part sporty, one part luxury and because the car sits low to the group and seating position is low and you feel like your slotting into the car and hunkering down, rather than sitting on top of it. The interior ambiance is quite different to your normal sports sedan.

Whether cruising down the highway or spearing through corners, the seats do a good job of keeping you both secure and comfortable. The light blue leather upholstery looks great too, though other colours are available. A flat bottomed leather steering wheel adds a dash of sports-cool, while hand-stitched leather covers the instrument cluster cowl, the door inserts and part of the transmission tunnel.

The combined effect of all this leather, which is contrasted with brushed aluminium accents, is a heightened sense of luxury and makes the experience of driving the car - even on shorter journeys - a touch more momentous. The TT features a simplified version of the standard Audi centre console, and it's more like the simplistic stereo and heating controls of a BMW than a standard Audi. In my book simple is good, and the scaled down Audi unit works well.

On the transmission tunnel below the gearshifter are two buttons. One activates the rear spoiler that folds up with a satisfying 'ca-thunk' and the other initiates the sports suspension mode (a cost option on the 2.0 TFSI models), officially known as Audi Magnetic Ride.

As mentioned, the TT has no problems dealing with daily driving situations - it's a very pleasant car to pootle around in, with no glaring obstructions. Mind you, it is a low car and this often means you won't be able to see past the car in front of you. Rearward vision was better than I was expecting, as was ingress and egress. Indeed, getting in and out of the car isn't as taxing as a Lotus Elise, but at the same token don't expect A4 levels of access either.

On the freeway in top gear at a speed of 100km/h and sitting on cruise control, the Audi TT proved quite frugal and sipped an average of 6.5 litres of petrol for every 100 kilometers travelled. That's very good fuel efficiency, and a feather weight 1280kg kerb mass can be thanked for its cruising capabilities. 

It's also a quiet vehicle on the freeway, and our test car had very good fit and finish with quality plastics and plenty of metallic accents. The TT also includes pair of rear seats, but they're very much an afterthought. Like in a Porsche 911 they're not really tailored for humans. Canines and felines perhaps...

Away from the straight and narrow and towards the snaking roads near the coast, the TT really begins to shine. Being a short 2-door coupe means the car is highly rigid and there is less scope to flex thanks to fewer panels and joins. Add short front and rear overhangs to the equation and a lightweight aluminium/steel spaceframe and you've got a sure-fire recipe for quick reflexes.

Switch the Audi Magnetic Ride to 'sports' mode, and together with an impressively low centre of gravity the TT is instantly engaging as a drivers car. It's responsive and dexterous and has a positive feel on the road.It's almost like the car wants to go fast. All the time. It sits very nicely on the road with a strong 'tied down' feel, and even with the Audi Magnetic Ride system switched off the car handles remarkably well.

For a front-wheel drive vehicle it has sharp initial turn and feels very planted as you coax it through a corner with the right foot. There is mild understeer when the turbo really begins to huff, but all told the TT has a markedly neutral feel. Indeed, it's a much sharper tool than I was expecting and develops a surprising amount of firepower from its boosted 4-cylinder power core.

Powered by an engine almost identical to the unit in the Golf GTI, the TT is much quicker due to improved aerodynamics and a lighter 1280kg kerb weight. Floor the throttle and the fiery 2.0-litre turbo engine erupts to life and the car surges forwards with a screech from the sticky treads, the gearbox dropping a few cogs to comply. I was expecting the 2.0-litre turbo Audi TT to be a bit of wimp, a hairdressers car. But it's not. It pushes you into your seat back when the 280Nm torque wave washes over the front wheels, and can reach high speeds very rapidly. 

The TT not only accelerates like a V2 rocket, but feels composed even when pushed towards its limit. It has a confidence-inspiring level of security, bolstered by things like ESP and airbags. The German-designed (Hungarian-built) sports coupe changes direction very crisply at nominal and high speeds - flickability is brilliant - and though I think the 6-speed manual version would offer a more involving drive, there's no denying the rapidity of the S-Tronic dual clutch gearbox.

Interestingly, after a few days in the saddle I developed a quasi emotional connection with the car, fostered most predominantly when the tempo was upped. Under full throttle loads the exhaust note from the 4-cylinder engine is quite growly, and on the overrun as you let off the gas and squeeze the brakes there's an eye-opening burble and even the odd crack from the exhaust, which gives the car a highly competitive character.

While highly responsive, the steering feel is best described as adequate. Perhaps a little overassisted. It does communicate what's going on with the front wheels as they track through corners, and gets better with time, but it struck me as a little soulless in some respects. Let me put it like this: if you ask the TT a question, it'll happily answer it truthfully and quickly. But it won't continue the conversation.

Yet even with a not-quite-perfect steering setup the TT feels inspired. It's not what I'd call overly rewarding to drive as the S-Tronic gearbox santises the experience somewhat, but it is so damned quick, has tonnes of grip, and sits very flat through corners that it's hard not to appreciate its performance capabilities. For a 4-cylinder car it's got a lot of poise, and for a front-wheel drive car it feels fairly neutral in its corner approaches and departures, neither leaning too far towards over or under steer.

It holds a remarkably tight line through a bend and even with heavy-footed throttle input the car tracks securely round corners with very little re-adjustment needed. A high degree of tyre grip helps in this respect. It has chubby245/45 R17 tyres at all four corners, and not too much weight which is a combination that works to give the TT a very 'compact' and self-assured feel. The traction control and ESP systems take a lot of the credit in this respect, and testament to the seamless application of these electronic driving aids I really didn't notice how much work they was doing until a few hours into our first serious performance run. 

With some traction and stability systems you can clearly feel when the electronic aids are firing but with the Audi TT you barely notice it at all, perhaps even so far as to take the joy out of how well you thought you were driving. While these systems make the car much safer and far more accessible to a wider range of drivers, there were instances when the electronic aids and the electro-hydraulic steering masked feedback slighty, and made it more difficult to really 'feel' the road. 

I did notice the rear end squirm under hard braking a few times, mostly when the road surface wasn't A-grade. Perhaps the suspension a touch too firm with the magnetic ride system switched to sport mode? Whatever the case, the 312mm front and 286mm rear disc brakes are more than strong enough to afford the TT rapid deceleration. These performance anchors did a bang up job for the most part, but did lose some pedal feel and exhibited a touch of fade at the end of a days toil. 

The new Audi TT is an improvement on the original car - no question about it. It looks better, it has a more capable chassis, and the entry-level 2.0-litre engine is no longer suffering from malnutrition. The interior is very pleasing on both haptic and aesthetic levels, plus the stereo is pretty good, and the seats do an excellent job of straddling the luxury-sports middle ground. It doesn't have a huge boot but you can squeeze a fair amount of cargo in there, and with 290 litres of space is on par with a mid-sized hatchback. Besides, the Audi TT was made for looking hot, ascending mountain passes at warp speeds, and cruising trendy boulevards; load lugging is an entirely secondary objective for a car such as this.

I must admit the TT didn't grab me by the scruff of the neck as an outright V8 slayer, but was far more capable and indeed more powerful than I was expecting. It's very quick, very self-assured and has scads of grip - but it's also quite sophisticated when the time calls for it. I was also expecting to drive something that had to be treated with care, that needed to carefully studied before exploiting. But it wasn't. Preconceptions are banned from now on... 

The new Audi TT was very user friendly and the S-Tronic dual-clutch gearbox is one of the best in the business. It took no time at all to learn the cars limits and before too long I was giving the TT a right-royal thrashing - without breaking a sweat and with nary a white-knuckle in sight. Which begs the question:is the Audi TT too accessible? I think that it may well be, and in doing so has lost a little of its mystique.

Overall: 4/5

Though this four-wheeled Lothario may have lost a touch of its mystique, it barely dents the car's confidence. It's sexy, it's suave, and it's highly desirable. If the price tag is of no concern you'll find there's a lot to like about the tenacious TT, from theluxury interior, to the smooth exterior, and the rorty engine, to the slick gearbox. It's all top shelf. Apart from boot space and leg room, the new Audi TT barely puts a foot wrong.

In addition to fashionistas and poseurs, the TT will appeal to enthusiasts too. If pushed, the TT responds with bared teeth - it's able to dice up apexes like the Iron Chef slices foie gras. But at the same token the ground-hugging Audi is also a very civil vehicle when the situation (or passenger) necessitate a softly-slowly approach. It's effortless and efficient to drive with the S-Tronic automatic gearbox and the advanced Magnetic Ride system has a level of adaptability not before seen in the segment.

The second generation Audi TT is a fitting evolution for the iconic vehicle. It retains the traditional TT 'shape', adds more interior room for larger drivers and is more sumptuously equipped. Andbest of all, it attracts more attention than a Porsche Boxster. Mission accomplished.