Audi TT Review
Car Tested: 2013 Audi TT 2.0-TFSI
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 65,25,590/-
The Audi TT not only goes fast, it even looks fast while standing still.
The Audi TT might have been through two generations only, but it dates back all the way to 1994, when the first sketch was made. It was subsequently presented at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show. Launched in 1998, the TT name comes from the British Isle of Man TT motorcycle race, where TT stands for Tourist Trophy. The TT name is also at times referred to Technology and Tradition by the company. The second generation MK2 model was launched in 2006 and is internally known as Typ 8J. All Audi TT units sold till date have been manufactured by Audi Hungary, the body shells coming from the German automaker’s head plant in Ingolstadt. Does the Audi TT drive as well as it looks? Let’s find out.
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Exteriors – The design of the original Audi TT was done by J Mays (who has also worked on the Ford EcoSport). The original model had a very mean appearance, which was thoroughly appealing. The second gen model is more sharp and reflects typical Audi elements. The front features a large three-dimensional grille with very sharp design edges neatly placed around the bumper. The daytime running lights are constituted of twelve white LEDs placed in a straight line on the lower side of the headlights. The side profile reveals the famous Audi TT body shape, which has won several awards globally.
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The 2-door coupe has a very sharply receding roofline which merges neatly with the rear windshield. The glass area on the side follows a similar pattern and creates a visual aura which is so exciting that everybody not only looks, but starts to follow you. The tail lights have squarish lamps which give a floating appearance. The rear spoiler can be electronically deployed with a touch of a button and adds to the sporty pretext of the TT. The rear bumper sports twin exhausts on either sides, while the fat rubber is easily visible giving a very menacing stance to the vehicle.
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Interiors – Step inside and the seats are lowly placed to lower the center of gravity for better dynamics. The Nappa leather seats are pretty comfortable and supportive. Both front seats offer electronic adjustment with lumbar support. The interior fit and finish is outstanding and everything about the interiors spells sporty. The brushed grey aluminium inserts placed neatly on various parts of the dashboard amplify the sportiness. The AC chills well and we got a first hand experience of this in the boiling Mumbai summer. The Audi TT gets five air conditioning vents and the chrome surrounds around them not only look classy but can also be rotated to shut the vent.
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The Bose speakers give out superb sound but frankly the engine note is the one you want to hear. The steering wheel is just the right size for a sports car and offers very good grip. It even has a flat bottom. The center console has a few buttons right behind the gear lever including Sport mode, traction control on/off, hazard lights and rear spoiler activation. The rim-less doors are robust and have deep pockets along with red inserts on the door pads. The rear seats offer very poor legroom, in fact so less it the rear seat space, that you can only seat small children in there. Even the headroom is inadequate due to the sloping roofline. That said, the rear seat is the best place to keep things and you can fold it to increase boot space. The TT is meant to be used as a coupe and it does brilliantly well in that regard.
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The instrument cluster has two big pods (with a small display on each) and two small ones along with a rectangle centre display screen. This centre display has a gear indicator and also displays fuel consupmtion data along with all other driver information. The chrome surrounds on the pods look neat. The boot is of decent size and there is no spare tyre. Thus an electronic air pump has been placed in the well of the boot along with the tool kit.
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Performance – While other two door coupes use a V6 engine, the Audi TT makes do with a 4-cylinder heart. This TFSI motor uses high compression, which means the engine sips on super premium 95 octane fuel. Even with not much power to boot, the Audi TT performs surprsingly well. Throttle response is instant and the TT accelerates in a linear manner off the line. Once you hit the mid-range of the powerband, you are rewarded with a surge which goes till the 6200 RPM redline (peak power is produced between 4300 – 6000 RPM). NVH levels at idle are good but as you smack the throttle, the Audi TT makes itself heard, with an impressive soundtrack.
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The wide torque curve makes driving the Audi TT a breeze even in city driving conditions, but it is the highways where this vehicle truly shines. Reaching higher end of triple digit speeds doesn’t take much long and the TT keeps pulling strongly till 190 km/hr, after which it gradually starts running out of steam. There is a Sport mode which makes the throttle responsive even crispier. The engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox, which does a good job in keeping the engine on the boil when you want it to. You can also manually shift via the steering mounted paddles. While the 2.0-litre TFSI motor does a good job, Audi should really consider offering the 3.0-litre TFSI to help the TT scorch the tarmac. Audi also offers the TT with a diesel heart globally, which can be a practical alternative in our country.
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Driving Dynamics – The Audi TT’s driving dynamics benefit massively from low weight thanks to the use of Audi’s Space Frame technology, which uses aluminium resulting in the body weighing just 206 kgs. Aluminium has also been used on the suspension to reduce unsprung mass. That said, the Audi TT has been stiffly setup which gives it very sharp handling. The short wheelbase along with the Quattro all-wheel drive system ensure the TT is immensely stable around corners. Grip levels are insanely good. You can literally point and shoot and the TT follows. High speed stability is excellent too, thanks to the low center of gravity and brakes offer tremendous feedback and stopping power.
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The steering wheel is electromechanical and is fairly accurate in directional changes. However it doesn’t feel as communicative as its elder sibling, the Audi S4, but offers decent amount of feedback. It does weight up well on high speeds and when in Sport mode, it does feel more connected. The TT gets electronically controlled magnetic ride shock absorber system, which controls the adaptive damping. However the ride quality is still quite stiff and the Audi TT crashes into potholes badly, jostling the complete cabin in the process. The run flat tires don’t help the ride either. On smooth surfaces, the ride is good but there are very few good roads and for the most part of our test, we found the ride quality too harsh on the regular roads.
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Verdict – The Audi TT is a stunning looking vehicle which can attract immense attention on Indian roads. It delivers good performance and handles like a charm too. The cabin is comfortable and feels special with the high quality bits all around. The only gripe is the ride quality of the TT, which is quite harsh for our roads. Audi can make the TT appeal to the head by improving the ride quality of the car and offering a diesel powerplant. Till then, the Audi TT will continue to please the heart with its stunning aura and performance.
The Audi TT is a very desirable car, it has the show to match the go and handles brilliantly around corners too.
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What’s Cool
* Performance
* Handling
* Interior design and quality
What’s Not So Cool
* Ride quality
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2013 Audi TT Specifications
* Engine: 1984cc, 4-cylinder, Direct Fuel Injection
* Power: 208 BHP @ 4300-6000 RPM
* Torque: 350 Nm @ 1600-4200 RPM
* Transmission: 6-step S tronic
* Top Speed: 243 km/hr
* 0-100 km/h: 5.6 seconds
* Fuel Consumption: 8 km/l (City), 10 km/l (highway)
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Suspension: MacPherson struts (Front), four link suspension (Rear)
* Tyres: 245/45/17 Tubeless Radials
* Brakes: Dual circuit brake system, Ventilated Disc (Front), Solid Disc (Rear)
* Safety: ABS, EBD, TCS, Front Airbags
2013 Audi TT Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 4198 mm X 1842 mm X 1353 mm
* Wheelbase: 2468 mm
* Front/Rear Track: 1562/1548 mm
* Ground clearance: 160 mm
* Turning Radius: 5.5-metres
* Boot Volume: 290-litres, 700-litres (with rear seats folded)
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 60-litres
* Kerb Weight: 1360 kgs