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Audi TT
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The Audi TT is a sports car manufactured by Audi since 1998 in Gyor, Hungary, now in its second generation — and available as a 2+2 coupé or two-seater roadster.
development of the Audi TT began in September 1994 at the Audi Design Center in California. The TT was first shown as a concept car at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show. The design is credited to J Mays and Freeman Thomas with Martin Smith contributing to the award winning interior design.
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Encyclopedia
The Audi TT is a sports car manufactured by Audi since 1998 in Gyor, Hungary, now in its second generation — and available as a 2+2 coupé or two-seater roadster.
Origins
The development of the Audi TT began in September 1994 at the Audi Design Center in California. The TT was first shown as a concept car at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show. The design is credited to J Mays and Freeman Thomas with Martin Smith contributing to the award winning interior design. A previously unused laser welding adaptation that enabled seamless design features on the first-generation TT, also delayed its introduction.
Audi did not initially include an automatic transmission option for the TT. A DSG (S-Tronic) became available, the first for a production car, in 2003.
Name
The TT is named for the successful racing tradition of NSU in the British Isle of Man TT motorcycle race. NSU began competing in the TT in 1911 and later merged into the company now known as Audi.
The Audi TT also follows the NSU 1000TT, 1200TT and TTS cars of the 1960s in being named for the race.
The Audi TT Roadster was presented in Detroit in 1999 under the name Audi TTS.
First generation (Typ 8N, 1999-2006)
The production model (internal designation Typ 8N) was launched as a coupé in September 1998, followed by a roadster in August 1999, based on the Volkswagen Group A4 (PQ34) platform used for the Volkswagen Golf Mk4, Skoda Octavia and others. The styling differed little from the concept, except for slightly reprofiled bumpers and the addition of a rear quarterlight windows behind the doors.
Mechanically, the TT uses a transversely mounted engine with front or quattro four-wheel drive. It was first available with a 1.8 L turbocharged inline four cylinder 20-valve engine, with either or . The engines share the same basic design but the 225 PS version features a larger turbocharger, an additional intercooler on the driver's side, forged connecting rods, a dual exhaust, and a few other internals designed to accommodate the increase in turbo boost from roughly 10 psi peak to 15. Haldex enabled four wheel drive branded as quattro was optional on the engine, and standard on the more powerful version.
Early TT models gained press coverage for a series of high-speed accidents in Europe. Reported crashes and related fatalities occurred at speeds in excess of during abrupt lane changes or sharp turns. Both the coupe and roadster models were recalled in late 1999/early 2000 to improve predictability of the car's handling at very high-speeds. Audi's Electronic Stability Programme, and rear spoiler were added, along with suspension modifications. All changes were subsequently incorporated into future versions of the car.
The original four cylinder engine range was complemented with a 3.2 L VR6 in early 2003, which comes with the quattro four-wheel drive system. In October 2004 a new DSG (dual-clutch) gearbox, which improves acceleration through drastically reduced shift time, was offered along with a stiffer suspension.
TT quattro Sport
In 2005 Audi released the limited edition (800 sold in the UK not the 1000 originally planed) TT quattro Sport (known as the Club Sport in Europe). It had increased power from its 1.8-litre turbocharged engine - giving and ft of torque - and a reduction in weight of to , giving a top speed of . This was achieved by deleting the spare wheel and by taking out the rear parcel shelf and rear seats. Fixed-back Recaro bucket seats graced the interior. Distinguishable from other TT coupes by its two-tone paint scheme (black painted roof, pillars and mirror housings in combination with either Avus Silver, Phantom Black, Mauritius Blue or Misano Red body colour) and unique , 15-spoke aluminium wheels, plus the same body kit as fitted to the TT 3.2 V6, it also had uprated suspension settings, V6-spec brakes fitted and the new wheels were wider at the rear for improved grip.
Engines
| Model | Displacement (cc) | Cylinder | Power (hp, torque) | Production (model year) | Drive |
|---|
| 1.8T | 1781 | I4 turbo | | 2002-2006 | FWD | | 1.8T | 1781 | I4 turbo | | 2006 | FWD | | 1.8T | 1781 | I4 turbo | | 1998-2006 | FWD, AWD | | 1.8T | 1781 | I4 turbo | | 2006 | FWD, AWD | | 1.8T quattro | 1781 | I4 turbo | | 1998-2005 | AWD | | 1.8T quattro sport | 1781 | I4 turbo | | 2005-2006 | AWD | | 3.2 quattro | 3183 | V6 | | 2003-2006 | AWD |
Lawsuits
There are two class action lawsuits affecting specific model years of the first generation TT.
On January 22, 2008 the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, entered an order preliminarily approving a nationwide settlement of a class action lawsuit brought by Green Welling LLP on behalf of all current and prior owners and lessees of 2000-2004, and 2005 model year Audi TTs. The lawsuit and settlement relate to allegedly defective instrument clusters, and Audi TT owners are entitled to submit claims for repairs, replacement and/or cash reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses, and all TT owners covered by the suit will receive a 2-year extension of their existing 4-year warranty (limited to the instrument cluster).
On June 22, 2007 Pearson, Simon, Soter, Warshaw & Penny, LLP and the Law Office of Robert L. Starr filed a class action lawsuit against Volkswagen alleging that the timing belts for model year 1999-2003 Audi and Volkswagen vehicles equipped with a 1.8 litre turbo-charged engine fail prematurely. The vehicles included are the Audi TT, Audi A4 and Volkswagen Passat. The complaint alleges that the timing belts fail prior to the service interval, as stated in the owner's manual. The parties have reached a class-wide settlement and preliminary approval of the settlement was granted by the court on May 19, 2008. Claim forms, class notice and other documentation will be mailed on or about August 1, 2008. Details regarding the terms of the settlement will be in the notice sent to owners of the class vehicles.
Awards
The TT was nominated for the North American Car of the Year award for 2000. It was also on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 2000 and 2001.
Second generation (Typ 8J, 2007-)
A preview of the second-generation TT was provided in the form of the Audi Shooting Brake concept car, shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2005. This concept was based on the new TT, but featured angular styling and a "shooting brake" 2-door hatchback body style.
Audi revealed the second-generation TT, internal designation Typ 8J, on April 6, 2006. It is constructed of aluminium in the front, and steel in the rear, to enhance its balance and is available in front- or four-wheel drive.
The production car uses either 1.8L turbo (available in Germany), 2.0L turbo, or 3.2L engine. The FSI (Fuel Stratified Injection) technology was derived from the Audi Le Mans race cars, and offers improved fuel efficiency as well as an increased power output. 3.2L FSI engine was used in the Canadian model.
A 6-speed manual transmission is standard, with the Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG) as an option for all but 1.8L TT.
Quattro four-wheel drive is standard on V6 models, but was not available on 1.8 TFSI. 2.0 TFSI quattro models began available in 2009 model year.
Audi's new active suspension, Audi Magnetic Ride, is available as an option, and is based on Delphi's MagneRide magneto rheological dampers (which means that the suspension will automatically adjust depending on the current road conditions). The new TT also features an improved rear spoiler that automatically extends at speeds greater than , and retracts again at . The spoiler can also be manually controlled by the driver via a switch on the dash. It is again offered as a 2+2 coupé and as a roadster.
TT TDI
In 2008, Audi offered the first diesel version of Audi TT as as a quattro model, available in Coupé and Roadster versions, in European market. Audi said average fuel consumption on the engine is in the coupé variant.
It includes 6-speed manual transmission.
TTS
In the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Audi released the TTS with a 2.0TFSI engine tuned to . It features quattro four wheel drive and come with a choice of a 6-speed manual or 6-speed S tronic transmission. In the United States, only the S tronic gearbox will be available.
The car went on sale in the USA at November 2008.
TT RS
This model (avaiable in Coupé and Roadster) includes a turbocharged 2.5L 5-cylinder TFSI engine rated and @1600-5300rpm, quattro all wheel drive, 6-speed manual gearbox, 10 millimeters lower body, optional Audi magnetic ride, 18-inch (optional 19, 20 inch) wheels with 245/45 tires, stationary rear spoiler (retractable optional), black interior with heated Alcantara/leather seats (Silk Nappa, Fine Nappa leather optional).
Additions to the quattro system include a constant velocity joint before the propeller shaft and a compact rear-axle differential – both are heavy-duty components.
Coupé ran from 0 to in 4.6 seconds (4.7s for Roadster), with top speed of (optional ). Coupé and Roadster weight 1450 and 1510 kg respectively.
The car began sale in March 2009 with delivery beginning in summer.
Engines
| Model | Displacement (cc) | Cylinder | Power (hp, torque) | Production (model year) | Drive |
|---|
| Petrol engines |
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| TT 1.8 TFSI | 1798 | I4 turbo (EA888) | | 2007- | FWD | | TT 2.0 TFSI | 1984 | I4 turbo (AXX, BWA, BPY) | | 2007- | FWD,AWD | | TT 3.2 | 3189 | V6 | | 2007- | AWD | | TT 3.2 FSI | 3123 | V6 | | 2009?- | AWD | | TTS 2.0 TFSI | 1984 | I4 turbo | , | 2009- | AWD | | TT RS 2.5 TFSI | 2480 | I5 turbo | | 2010- | AWD | | Diesel engines |
|---|
| TT 2.0 TDI | 1968 | I4 turbo | | 2009- | AWD |
Awards
The second generation TT has been honored with many awards including the inaugural Drive Car of the Year, Top Gear Coupé of the Year 2006, Fifth Gear Car of the Year 2006, Autobild 'Most Beautiful Car' and World Design Car of the Year 2007, as well as being a finalist for World Car of the Year.
External links
- , from AudiWorld.com
- , Audi TT owners Club
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