The 2016 Audi TT’s base engine puts out 230 horsepower.Audi
The rude belch from the Audi's exhaust pipe was enough to make this particular member of the Spanish Policia get up from his spot at a quiet roadside café just in time to see a radiant yellow TTS buzz past.
Then, at exactly the wrong moment, the Audi did it again: another rude bark from the exhaust as the automatic transmission banged up another gear. Seen disappearing in the rearview, the officer was talking into his radio.
The TTS sounds faster than it is.
Since its introduction as a concept in 1995, the Audi TT has generally been more about style than performance; a coupe for those who prefer Bauhaus to BHP. For this third iteration of the TT, Audi has tried to dispel that notion, putting an emphasis on performance and technology.
On the performance front, Audi has made progress. With 230 horsepower, the base TT shoots past tractors with a gusto that belies the engine's tiny 2.0-litre displacement. In fact, the basic TT is so good, the 310 horsepower TTS feels like overkill as it accelerates relentlessly to 6,000 rpm.
Quattro all-wheel drive ensures the TT always sticks to a given trajectory, but the flip side is the handling doesn't have the playfulness or edge of a great sports car. It feels safe, even as you make rapid progress.
At least the interior upholds the TT's tradition of zeitgeist-busting design.
As every other auto maker moves toward more and larger screens, Audi took one away. There is no central screen in the TT. Instead, just a single digital panel is behind the steering wheel. It displays everything from a large colour map, to a tachometer, to phone contacts. It's simple to use, easy to read and very cool. Audi calls this the "virtual cockpit" and it feels like the future.
Despite the TT's new-found turn of speed, it's still the design – inside and out – which remains its greatest strength.
As for the Spanish police officer, he never gave chase. I don't suppose I was over the generous speed limit on this particular piece of Andalusian back road. Maybe he was just radioing in to say he'd seen the new TT, that it looked beautiful in yellow.
The 2016 Audi TT will arrive in Canada in late summer 2015.
The writer was a guest of the auto maker. Content was not subject to approval.
You'll like this car if ... you care deeply about good design.
TECH SPECS
- Base price: TBD
- Engine: 2.0-litre turbo I4
- Transmission: Six-speed automatic
- Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 6.8 combined (TT on EU cycle)
- Drive: All-wheel drive
- Alternatives: BMW Z4, Mercedes-Benz SLK, Porsche Boxster, Porsche Cayman, Alfa Romeo 4C
RATINGS
- Looks: Still instantly recognizable as a TT, now with more (optional) LED lights.
- Interior: The best interior in its class, thanks in part to the clever “virtual cockpit.”
- Performance: Lighter and more powerful than before, the base 230-hp engine will be enough for most. But the handling still lacks a bit of edge.
- Technology: New adaptive magnetic dampers make for a comfortable ride. MMI infotainment system is excellent.
- Cargo: Unlike most of its rivals, it has rear seats, but they’re best used for excess luggage, not people.
The Verdict
8.0
On the strength of its new engines and wonderful interior, this is the best TT yet.
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