The British magazine What Car? recently named it Coupé
of the Year for the fifth time in a row.
Body and interior
The TT Coupé has an enchantingly dynamic appearance. The decisive
factor for the efficiency and driving dynamics of the TT is the body, which
features hybrid Audi Space Frame technology (ASF). Lightweight aluminum is
used at the front of the car back to the B-pillar, with steel panels used
at the rear. The mix makes it possible to finely balance the axle loads and
keep the overall weight low. The rigid and safe body in white weighs only
206 kilograms (454.15 lb). The TT 1.8 TFSI weighs a mere 1,240 kg (2,733.73
lb), a good 100 kilograms (220.46 lbs) less than its competitors. The interior
of the TT offers dynamic elegance and superior workmanship. The leather seat
covers are specially treated to reduce solar heating by as much as 20 degrees
Celsius (68 Fahrenheit). The 2 + 2 coupé is a sports car with a high
degree of everyday practicality. The split backs of the rear seats fold down,
expanding the trunk space beneath the long hatch from 290 to 700 liters (10.24
24.72 cu ft).
Drivetrain
Audi offers the TT Coupé with three four-cylinder engines with
turbocharging and direct fuel injection. The two TFSI gasoline engines and
the TDI combine sporty performance with high efficiency for impressively
low fuel consumption figures. All three engines work with a recuperation
system. The 2.0 TFSI generates 155 kW (211 hp). The Audi valvelift system
AVS adjusts the lift of its exhaust valves in two stages, which increases
power, torque and efficiency.
The Audi TT 2.0 TDI consumes on average just 5.3 liters of fuel per 100 km
(44.38 US mpg). Its 125 kW (170 hp) of power and a brawny 350 Nm (258.15
lb-ft) of torque provide for dynamic performance.
The engines:
-
1.8 TFSI with 118 kW (160 hp)
-
2.0 TFSI and 2.0 TFSI quattro with 155 kW (211 hp)
-
2.0 TDI quattro with 125 kW (170 hp)
A six-speed manual transmission transfers power to the wheels regardless
of the engine. Audi also offers the S tronic dual-clutch transmission for
the 2.0 TFSI, which switches between its six gears extremely quickly. The
quattro permanent all-wheel drive system is available as an option for the
2.0 TFSI with the S tronic; it comes standard with the TDI. The heart of
the system is an electronically controlled hydraulic multi-plate clutch.
Chassis
The front suspension of the Audi TT features McPherson struts, with aluminum
components used to keep the weight of the unsprung masses low. Thanks to
its electromechanical drive, the power steering is highly efficient. The
trailing arms of the four-link rear suspension are designed with an eye toward
comfort. The connections to the three transverse links per wheel, on the
other hand, are rigid in order to direct lateral forces into the body with
precision. Available as an option with all variants of the TT is the variable
Audi magnetic ride shock absorber system, another high-tech feature. A computer
switches the adaptive suspension between two settings as desired by the driver.
The optional sport button can be used to adjust the characteristic of the
gas pedal (with manual transmissions), the servo boost for the steering and
the engine sound in two stages.
Equipment and trim
All TT models come with a generous array of standard equipment, including
the on-board computer with efficiency program. Noteworthy options include
the two navigation systems and the Bose surround sound system.
The Audi TT Roadster
The classic cloth top of the TT Ro adster underscores perfectly
Audi s lightweight design principle. It contributes to a low center
of gravity, fits perfectly into the design line and takes up little space
when open. A manual top is standard. The automatic top includes an additional
acoustic mat and an electrohydraulic drive. It opens in 12 seconds, even
while driving at a speed of up to 50 km/h (31.07 mph). The price list also
includes a power net wind deflector for both versions of the top. The TT
Roadster is a pure two-seater. Two massive rollover bars protect the driver
and passenger in the event of a rollover. Compared to the Coupé, its
body includes reinforcements in the area of the A-pillars, the sills and
the bulkhead between the interior and the luggage compartment, yet it still
weighs just 251 kilograms (553.36 lb). The luggage compartment holds 250
liters (8.83 cu ft) with the top up or down. The engines and transmissions
offered for the Audi TT Roadster are identical to those offered for the
Coupé. |