Audi has yet to officially announce the TT RS (or is that the RS TT?), but the German automaker is officially moving forward with two other versions of its TT sports car — the TTS and TT TDI. Both models promise to be a welcome addition to the already successful TT line.
TTS
The TTS will build on the TT’s already competent package, including a bump in power. For the TTS, Audi engineers have wrung out 272 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque from the company’s 2.0L TFSI engine, resulting in a 0-62 mph time of 5.2 seconds.
A magnetic ride adaptive damping system and the heavy use of aluminum in the TTS’ chassis will help the sports car better handle the twisties.
The TTS — which can be had in Coupe and Convertible guises — can be quipped with either a six-speed manual or a dual-clutch S tronic gearbox — each option returning an impressive 29 mpg. When the TTS hits European showrooms, it will list from €44,900 for the coupe and €47,750 for the Roadster.
TT TDI
The second version of the TT will be the TT TDI, the first diesel-powered TT in the nameplate’s history. While not as quick as the TTS, the TT TDI more than makes up for the performance difference in economy.
The TT TDI will be powered by a 170 horsepower, 258 lb-ft version of Audi’s 2.0L diesel powerplant. Though the TT TDI’s 0-62 run of 7.5 seconds isn’t all that impressive, its 44 mpg fuel economy on the European cycle is.
Like the TTS, the TT TDI can be had as either a Coupe or Roadster. But unlike the TTS, the TT TDI can only be had with a six-speed manual.
The TT TDI will launch alongside the TTS during the second quarter in Europe, with a starting price of €34,850 for the Coupe and €35,900 for the Roadster.
The TTS will make it to our shores in November, but there are no current plans to sell the TT TDI in the U.S.
04/29, 1:57 PM
posted by:
LaCaLover
Lovely Car
04/29, 2:17 PM
posted by:
beemsterdude
Hope the build quality has improved. Had a 2003 TT coupe for four years, and while I never had any major problems, it was a bit more VW-ish than I would have expected from what is supposed to be a luxury/performance nameplate. Had it in service 4 times to fix a defective driver’s window motor and it never was repaired properly.
Also, I hope the suspension is all new. The suspension on my car was AWFUL. Very rough ride on most roads and the car seemed to shudder a lot.
On the positive side, the materials and components used for the interior and the body of the car were first-class.
The car isn’t built in Germany… components are shipped to Hungary and then assembled there.
04/29, 2:35 PM
posted by:
A4
and watch us get neither of them
04/29, 2:48 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
Still looks and sounds like a VW GTI on steroids anyways. Why bother?
04/29, 3:13 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
VW needs to take this, shorten up the wheelbase, add some retro body panels, get rid of all the unnecessary doo-dads, put in their normally aspirated 2.0l and rebadge it as the Karmen Ghia. And bring it in for less than 20k. The Beetle is all but dead; they can’t give them away. Time for something new.
04/29, 3:15 PM
posted by:
hateful83
My thought too RaineMan, it’s on the same platform afterall. I’d say the regular GTI is the best example of that platform for the money. Even the R32 with its bigger 6cylinder and AWD system only shows a small bump in performance for the price. At least they’ve thrown in the magnetic ride adaptive damping system and aluminum bits. That might set it apart from the others.
04/29, 5:36 PM
posted by:
Bimmer
North America probably will see only TITS, but not TDI.
04/29, 7:54 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomr
The name RS-TT makes more sense in the Audi naming lexicon, and more importantly, it allows room for an RS-R8!
04/29, 8:42 PM
posted by:
autonut
johnny, VW could never certify multivalve 2.0L in US. They also could not certify normally aspirated 1.8L. Without turbo there is no 4 cylinder engine in VW lineup, and I am sure it was not by design. Their Golf, uhm Rabbit comes base with 5 cylinder, which is expensive, heavy, not all that powerful, but thirsty for the class. This lead me to believe that engine management is not VW forte.
04/29, 8:55 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
autonut: so what happened to that 115 horse generic POS 4 banger that they stuffed in everything for a decade or so?
04/29, 9:26 PM
posted by:
Veda
This is the Porsche fighter that I’ve been waiting for. Hopefully it will handle just as good as the Cayman but with better fuel economy and much cheaper price. The 0-60 time seems faster as well…
04/29, 9:52 PM
posted by:
autonut
I remember that pathetic POS. First and foremost it was 8 valves, when NOBODY had 8 valves.Hyundai had 16 valves already and it was young company. It had reliability problems, it was thirsty and how one could justify it against 1.6L 115 hp Civic engine or 1.7L 127 hp Civic EX engine? Corollas 1.8 was more powerful as well. I test drove Golf convertible, and it had some torque, but salesman was advocating to wait for turbo 1.8 version. You know it sucked.
04/30, 7:48 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
Hmm… 0-60 in 7.5 isn’t THAT unimpressive for a diesel… will outrun my petrol BMW to 60! (E30 318is only has 137 bhp new… mine probably has 4bhp remaining)