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This is a cult car, an icon – right from the day it made its debut, in
autumn 1998, the Audi TT took the sports coupé segment by storm, sharpening up
the brand's profile in the process. Now the second generation of this successful
model is making its debut. The new TT Coupé embodies sheer dynamism – in its
design, in its engine output and in its performance.
The exterior design
The first generation of the TT has become a milestone
in automotive design, an icon. The design adhered to pure geometric lines,
embodying a functional purity and austerity harking back to the Bauhaus style of
the 1920s. The core motifs were the circle and the curves of the roof line,
front and rear end. This timeless architecture guaranteed that the Audi TT was
an eminently recognisable presence out on the roads, and simultaneously gave the
development of the entire brand decisive momentum.
Audi has lovingly retained and stylishly enhanced this genetic code. On the
new TT the geometric shapes merge fluidly into a uniform whole. A low, narrow
greenhouse is supported by slim pillars sitting on broad, powerful shoulders.
The base body beneath is compact in looks, conveying a feeling of confidence and
strength. The convex and concave curves of its surfaces lend it the character of
an athletic sculpture straining forward.
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.
A sweeping line provides a transition between the interior trim of the door
and the instrument panel. It embodies the classic circles motif of the TT in a
number of ways, such as in the three centre air vents. All lines converge in the
instrument cluster, with its two large scales for speed and revs. New features
include a large digital speedometer in the display of the driver information
system.
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 bodyshell of the TT weighs 206 kg, 140 kg of which is aluminium and 66 kg
steel; were it built entirely of steel, it would be 48 percent heavier. Its low
weight is one of the key factors behind the impressive road behaviour of the new
TT Coupé. The unladen weight of the TT 2.0 TFSI is just 1,260 kilograms –
placing it at the forefront of this performance class. And the 3.2 quattro
weighs only 1,410 kg.
The new-style ASF on the Audi TT features properties that are truly worthy of
a genuine sports car. Its static torsional rigidity has been improved by around
50 percent over its predecessor. In terms of crash safety, too, the new TT is
utterly uncompromising.
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 S tronic dual-clutch gearbox and quattro drive for the V6 – both of them
exclusive technologies in the sports coupé segment – transmits 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.
The standard-spec transmission (for 2.0 TFSI) is a six-speed manual gearbox
in a weight-saving magnesium casing. A technical highlight, and a unique feature
in its class for the TT, is the optional S tronic dual-clutch gearbox. The
system's dual-clutch technology enables it to change gear in just 0.2 seconds,
producing no discernible interruption to the power flow. In manual mode, the
driver does the gear-changing, either by tapping the selector lever or by
pulling one of the shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel, like on a
racing car.
The four-cylinder TT is a front-wheel-drive model, while the V6 features
permanent four-wheel drive. Its quattro drive system operates with an
electronically controlled and hydraulically actuated multi-plate clutch. In
order to improve the distribution of axle loads, the clutch is placed at the
rear of the TT. The mechanical construction and control efficiency of the unit
have been further enhanced relative to the predecessor model. In normal
conditions, the clutch directs 85 percent of the torque to the front wheels, but
in extreme circumstances it is able to transmit as much as 100 percent of the
forces to one of the two axles.
The chassis
The sports suspension on the new TT Coupé also helps to deliver top-class
dynamics. This is thanks in part to its elaborate layout, as well as its 9 mm
lower centre of gravity. The Audi dynamic suspension layout has been redeveloped
and retuned. The emphasis here has been placed on the wider track, the larger
wheel cross-sections with diameters ranging from 16 to 19 inches and the
extensive elastokinematic measures.
The front suspension is pivoted on an aluminium subframe. It has a wide track
of 1,572 millimetres. The steering comprises a rack-and-pinion assembly that
supplies its electromechanical servo assistance as a function of road speed. The
steering is characterised by direct transmission and a high degree of precision.
A new feature compared with the torsion-beam design of the predecessor is the
four-link rear suspension with a track of 1,558 mm. In this instance, the coil
springs and shock absorbers are separate. The trailing links absorb the
propulsive and braking forces. As an aid to ride comfort, their configuration is
relatively soft.
The three wishbones per wheel, on the other hand, are connected rigidly in
order to introduce the transverse forces into the body precisely.
The TT 2.0 TFSI features 17-inch alloy wheels, fitted with 245/45 R 17 tyres
as standard. The 3.2 quattro features 18-inch alloy wheels, fitted with 255/35 R
18 tyres. All Audi TT models are fitted with newly developed disc brakes on
every wheel.
The new brake pads develop particularly high friction coefficients, thereby
improving brake responsiveness and performance. The newly developed ESP
electronic stabilisation program is designed to maintain a dynamic driving style
– it promotes the TT's self-steering behaviour, which is in the range of neutral
to slightly understeering. This sporty characteristic delivers thrilling
agility, maximum driving fun and magnificent handling.
The high-tech damping system Audi magnetic ride is available as an option –
an innovative technology that resolves the age-old conflict between comfort and
driving dynamics. The shock absorber pistons on the TT do not contain
conventional oil, but a magneto-rheological fluid in which microscopically small
magnetic particles are enclosed. When a voltage is applied to them, they alter
the damping characteristics within milliseconds.
This adaptive system simultaneously maintains astonishingly high levels of
ride comfort and thoroughly sporty dynamism with perfect roll stabilisation,
according to the specific driving scenario and the preferences of the driver.
The driver can choose between the basic programs "Normal" and "Sport" at a
switch. None of the TT's competitors offers a similarly advanced technological
concept.
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