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June 14, 2006
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The front end has gained greater expressiveness and resolve. The single-frame radiator grille serves as its defining element. The large air inlets hint at the potential of the engines, and the sharply cut, sloping headlights emphasise the mature appearance of the car. The rear end, characteristic of the TT, conveys power and dynamism through its wide wheel arches. The lights generate a three-dimensional effect thanks to their visual depth. The powerful exhaust tailpipes, the wide diffuser and the centred rear fog light echo the world of motor sport. When the new Audi TT is stationary, its electrically operated rear spoiler is visible only as an unobtrusive lip. When the car reaches a speed of 120 km/h, the spoiler is extended in a two-dimensional curve motion, thereby improving the downforce on the rear axle. When the car's speed drops below 80 km/h again, the spoiler automatically retracts. The underbody design also helps to reduce lift. The interior The original TT was itself one of the few coupés on the market to offer genuine sports car design in its interior. In the new model, too, the fluid dynamism of the exterior is echoed in the interior. The new standard-spec sports steering wheel fits snugly in the hands. Its solid rim, trimmed in high-grade Nappa leather, is flattened at the bottom, similarly to the Audi RS 4 and the Le Mans quattro sports car study. The driver's and front passenger's sports seats are fitted even lower down than in the predecessor model, providing a truly sporty seating position allied to firm side restraint. Like the steering column, they can of course be adjusted longitudinally and in height, offering a perfect sporty seated position for every driver. The body The new Audi TT, like its predecessor, is initially available as a 2 + 2-seater coupé; a roadster model is scheduled for later launch. The dynamic impression that it creates stems from its modified proportions. The coupé is 137 mm longer and 78 mm wider than its predecessor, but only 6 mm higher. It is now 4,178 mm long, 1,842 mm wide and 1,352 mm high. The TT's wheelbase is 2,468 mm. The interior, too, has benefited from this increase in size: it has grown by 75 mm in length to 1,577 mm, by 29 mm in front shoulder width to 1,352 mm and by 23 mm in rear shoulder width to 1,206 mm. In the basic configuration, the luggage compartment beneath the large lid accommodates 290 litres of luggage. It grows to 700 litres when the rear seat backs are folded down, and its length of 1.70 metres is ample for two golf bags. With these practical characteristics, the TT Coupé sets standards in its class. The body of the new TT is constructed in lightweight ASF design. The three letters stand for Audi Space Frame - the ground-breaking aluminium technology developed by the company in the early 1990s for the first A8 series. The ASF combines aluminium and steel for the first time. Aluminium accounts for 69 percent of the weight of the body. Fully galvanised steel components are located principally at the rear of the floor panel. The doors and luggage compartment lid are also made of steel. This ensures that the axle loads are distributed evenly, thus considerably improving the handling of the vehicle. The drivetrain The new Audi TT is powered by two transversely installed petrol engines - a four-cylinder turbo and a V6. Both units provide it with high levels of power and performance. Their performance enables the TT Coupé to perform impressively on the road. The optional S tronic dual-clutch gearbox and quattro drive for the V6 - both of them exclusive technologies in the sports coupé segment - transmit the engine's power into propulsion with magnificent effect. The four-cylinder turbo engine, with the abbreviation TFSI, develops its power from a swept volume of 1,984 cm3. An international jury of experts voted it "Engine of the Year" for two years in succession, in 2005 and 2006 - praise indeed for its innovative technological package. The TFSI combines the Audi-developed petrol direct injection technology FSI, which has impressively demonstrated its superiority in the R8 racing car, with a turbocharger - a perfect combination. The four-valve engine responds spontaneously to the throttle and is ultra-refined. It puts 280 Nm of torque onto the crankshaft even at engine speeds as low as 1,800 rpm, and is able to keep this high level of torque constant up to 5,000 rpm. The nominal power output of 147 kW (200 bhp) is delivered between 5,100 and 6,000 rpm. The 2.0 TFSI accelerates the Audi TT Coupé to 100 km/h in just 6.4 seconds (in the version featuring the S tronic dual-clutch gearbox) and on to a top speed of 240 km/h. It uses an average of just 7.7 litres of fuel per 100 km. Even more power is on tap from the V6 engine, with its 3,189 cm3 capacity. It develops a maximum torque of 320 Nm between 2,500 and 3,000 revs, and at 6,300 revs delivers a power output of 184 kW (250 bhp). The characteristic features of the long-stroke unit are the continuous adjustment of all four camshafts - by 52 degrees on the intake side and 42 degrees on the exhaust side - and the extremely narrow cylinder angle of just 15 degrees. On the road, the 3.2-litre V6 unit reveals itself to be high-torque and high-revving. It produces a fascinatingly sonorous response at every engine speed, emphasising above all the intake sound. The TT 3.2 quattro sprints from a standing start to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds (with S tronic). Its top speed is 250 km/h (governed) and its average fuel consumption 9.4 litres per 100 km. Standard equipment The standard equipment of the TT reflects the sporty character of the TT Coupé. The interior of the TT is resplendent with grey inlays and various aluminium-look components. The sports seats - upholstered in cloth in the four-cylinder model, and with Leather/Alcantara trim and seat heating in the V6 - are adjustable longitudinally and in height. The sports steering wheel is covered in Nappa leather. The automatic air conditioning system regulates the heating and ventilation depending on the angle of sunlight. The driver information system and the "chorus" audio system round off the standard specification of the driving area. The rear seat backs of the TT, divided 50:50, can be folded down separately. The luggage compartment features four lashing points. At a glance: The new Audi TT Coupé
(June 09, 2006)
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