By Tushal Bhadang
Heading out on the wide and curvaceous highways of Budaiya leading to the F1 circuit, thoughts about the TT of yesteryear flashed by. The first-gen TT was always good looking and that was about it. People bought it knowing it would never break any records. Women loved the old coupe; it was cute-and-cuddly despite bold lines. Audi did give it a face lift a few years back but still, the promise of a pure Sports performance coupe that would not only look startling but also prove itself in the 0-100 kph club, failed to materialize – until now.
The time had come to lay the red carpet for the only family member that missed a dab of the Audi crown jewels, a "goatee"! Yes, the 2008 TT not only adorns the looks but is creating sensations the world over with its longer, wider and newly sculpted presence. It now looks more purposeful without losing its iconic aerodynamic shape, the low bonnet line with wide-spaced xenon headlamps and bullish stance give it a perception of motion even at standstill, it was raring to go.
It shares some of its lineage from the VW Golf GTI, its heart is a turbo charged 2 litre four-potter, producing 200 bhp@ 6000 RPM. Torque starts pumping your adrenalin from as low as 1800 RPM and a peak torque of 280 Nm keeps you bolted to your seat at 5000 RPM. Redlining the rev counter is too easy and a joy with the 6-speed S Tronic tranny with super-slick gearshifts. The electro-mechanical steering wheel is near-perfectly weighted and gives excellent feedback.
In "S" Sports mode the TT keeps the revs in the red, understandable. Being front wheel drive, understeer is present but controllable with a dab of your right foot. The ride quality is comfortable for a sports coupe. Our test car came with adjustable damping control in the suspension. Audi's 'magnetic ride' damping system adjusts the suspension for firm or soft ride (sports mode on/off) via a switch on the centre console. The system comprises of magnetically charged particles suspended in the oil dampers. When electrical current is passed through them, within milliseconds they change the ride quality from firm and sporty to soft and supple.
Audi prides in technology and the latest in Audi Space Frame (ASF) has been incorporated into the TT. 69 percent of the body is built from aluminium alloy and the remaining 30 percent (of steel) has been used in the rear section to distribute weight evenly. To improve down force (as the car is front engined) a retractable spoiler has been cleverly set into the bootlid. It raises itself at 120 kph but can also be manually raised via a button on the centre console, just for kicks. 100kph comes up very very quickly in 6.5 seconds, as it only weighs 1.2 tons.
Inside, our test car came with red leather upholstery (electrically operated seats) and a simpleton dash with layout canted towards the driver. The buttons are tactile and easy to locate in broad daylight, though interior lighting could've been brighter as we had some trouble locating the switches in pitch dark on the all black dash. Milled aluminium twist vents still adorn the on-dash aircon vents. It feels like a race car on the inside with subtle buffed aluminium garnish all around. The steering wheel is adjustable for rake and reach with audio controls for the 6-disc in-dash CD changer. The seating is low (you sit close to 1.5 feet above the road) and despite maintaining four-seater occupancy, the low roofline is only fit for two adults in the front and dwarves/kids at the back that too for only a spin round the block if they're claustrophobic. Wide front glass gives an excellent view of the road ahead, essential when u want to gently nudge that apex.
Large diameter disc brakes all around are present and essential for the formidably quick shot in the arm power surge the TT is capable of. All the safety aids of ASR, EBD and ABS are reassuringly present, as are four airbags. The limited glass area and fast roofline keep the luggage carrying capacity decent, with 288 litres and with the rear seats down increasing to 700 litres.
Last word
The Audi TT inherits a sports car pedigree, taking its practicality and popularity to a higher level. If you have deep pockets, it is possible to spend a little more on a large 3.2 litre V6 250 bhp motor with quattro (all wheel drive) and it also comes in Roadster form if you want the wind in your hair as you cruise down Exhibition Road. The TT logo on the rev counter and fuel gate lid show the attention to detail in design elements of the car. Wide 245/40R18 tyres are superb, but optional and there are many variations that you can choose for the motor, transmission, paint and interiors. The TT is making all the right sounds and moves that promise to intrigue all motoring enthusiasts.
The time had come to lay the red carpet for the only family member that missed a dab of the Audi crown jewels, a "goatee"! Yes, the 2008 TT not only adorns the looks but is creating sensations the world over with its longer, wider and newly sculpted presence. It now looks more purposeful without losing its iconic aerodynamic shape, the low bonnet line with wide-spaced xenon headlamps and bullish stance give it a perception of motion even at standstill, it was raring to go.
It shares some of its lineage from the VW Golf GTI, its heart is a turbo charged 2 litre four-potter, producing 200 bhp@ 6000 RPM. Torque starts pumping your adrenalin from as low as 1800 RPM and a peak torque of 280 Nm keeps you bolted to your seat at 5000 RPM. Redlining the rev counter is too easy and a joy with the 6-speed S Tronic tranny with super-slick gearshifts. The electro-mechanical steering wheel is near-perfectly weighted and gives excellent feedback.
In "S" Sports mode the TT keeps the revs in the red, understandable. Being front wheel drive, understeer is present but controllable with a dab of your right foot. The ride quality is comfortable for a sports coupe. Our test car came with adjustable damping control in the suspension. Audi's 'magnetic ride' damping system adjusts the suspension for firm or soft ride (sports mode on/off) via a switch on the centre console. The system comprises of magnetically charged particles suspended in the oil dampers. When electrical current is passed through them, within milliseconds they change the ride quality from firm and sporty to soft and supple.
Audi prides in technology and the latest in Audi Space Frame (ASF) has been incorporated into the TT. 69 percent of the body is built from aluminium alloy and the remaining 30 percent (of steel) has been used in the rear section to distribute weight evenly. To improve down force (as the car is front engined) a retractable spoiler has been cleverly set into the bootlid. It raises itself at 120 kph but can also be manually raised via a button on the centre console, just for kicks. 100kph comes up very very quickly in 6.5 seconds, as it only weighs 1.2 tons.
Inside, our test car came with red leather upholstery (electrically operated seats) and a simpleton dash with layout canted towards the driver. The buttons are tactile and easy to locate in broad daylight, though interior lighting could've been brighter as we had some trouble locating the switches in pitch dark on the all black dash. Milled aluminium twist vents still adorn the on-dash aircon vents. It feels like a race car on the inside with subtle buffed aluminium garnish all around. The steering wheel is adjustable for rake and reach with audio controls for the 6-disc in-dash CD changer. The seating is low (you sit close to 1.5 feet above the road) and despite maintaining four-seater occupancy, the low roofline is only fit for two adults in the front and dwarves/kids at the back that too for only a spin round the block if they're claustrophobic. Wide front glass gives an excellent view of the road ahead, essential when u want to gently nudge that apex.
Large diameter disc brakes all around are present and essential for the formidably quick shot in the arm power surge the TT is capable of. All the safety aids of ASR, EBD and ABS are reassuringly present, as are four airbags. The limited glass area and fast roofline keep the luggage carrying capacity decent, with 288 litres and with the rear seats down increasing to 700 litres.
Last word
The Audi TT inherits a sports car pedigree, taking its practicality and popularity to a higher level. If you have deep pockets, it is possible to spend a little more on a large 3.2 litre V6 250 bhp motor with quattro (all wheel drive) and it also comes in Roadster form if you want the wind in your hair as you cruise down Exhibition Road. The TT logo on the rev counter and fuel gate lid show the attention to detail in design elements of the car. Wide 245/40R18 tyres are superb, but optional and there are many variations that you can choose for the motor, transmission, paint and interiors. The TT is making all the right sounds and moves that promise to intrigue all motoring enthusiasts.
Rating 5 stars
Car Supplied by Behbehani Bros., Kingdom of Bahrain.
5 stars: Dream wheels
4 stars: Recommended
3 stars: On the ball
2 stars: Just transport
1 star : Very ordinary
1 comment:
TT is a beauty. with a 19 inch rims, you will prefer her to your wife anytime.
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