Munich, Germany--It’s been said that the Audi TT was a pivotal point in automotive design when it landed in 1998 and I would be hard-pressed to disagree. I reckon I remember when the first images of the TT Showcar Coupé were made public in 1995; I know I still have a copy of the Road & Track edition that featured the concept. Truly drool-worthy.
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| For the 2011 model year, the TT gains the 211-hp and 258-pound-foot. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre/Auto123.com) |
When it came, everyone and their mother raved about the poise, power, physique and performance of this car; it was impossible to make it better... other than adding a rear spoiler that is. Just short of a decade later, Audi did what could not be done; they made the TT even hotter and more desirable than previously. With new more powerful engines, hi-tech transmissions and a front fascia to melt the polar ice caps, the TT is reborn.
Not resting on their laurels
Instead of waiting many years before updating the car’s line-up, Audi has launched a pre-emptive strike on would-be competitors
Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class,
BMW Z4 and
Infiniti G Coupe. In fact, in Germany, the TT has outsold its Bavarian counterparts combined in the past few years. What did they do? For one, they eliminated the V6 engine from the line-up. “But they all have V6s. What gives?”.
Turbo! Direct injection! These are the magic words, and boy can they conjure up spells that will bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses (thank you Professor Snape). The famed and efficient 2.0T from Volkswagen’s extended family is a staple on which many models and variants depend on for motivation.
For the 2011 model year, the TT gains the 211-hp, 258-pound-foot iteration of the 2.0T first sampled under the bonnet of the present A4. Although the increases seem modest (11 hp and 51 lb-ft of torque), the results speak for themselves. The 2011 TT is quicker, and thanks to the S tronic dual-clutch 6-speed gearbox, the improvements are striking.
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| When it came, everyone and their mother raved about the poise, power, physique and performance of this car. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre/Auto123.com) |
