At a glance it looks the same, but the TT went and grew up on us a little bit. It's no longer the wild and crazy Audi--that role is amply fulfilled by the R8.
All-new for 2008, the TT still looks like the showcar-come-to-life it's been since its introduction in fall 1999, but the redesigned bathtub is now a little bit mainstreamed. You won't mistake it for anything else, but there are subtle refinements to the basic shape. The grille is deeper, in keeping with Audi's current aesthetic, and the headlights slightly reshaped. The styling still resembles that of a Volkswagen Beetle squashed into some kind of combat mode, but some very gentle tweaks to the lines give it a more mature look. The new body is about five and a half inches longer, and three inches wider. The windows and greenhouse are slightly taller, for improved visibility. A retractable spoiler lives on the rearmost edge of the tail; it slides into place at speeds over 75 mph to improve stability.
The TT's interior benefits from a dose of function over fashion, where previously it was the other way around. The new dash and console share a look with the rest of the Audi family. I kind of miss the machine gun-shaped ridges in the dash, but that's just me. The new interior looks more like that of an A4, and less like that of a space fighter. The standard steering wheel is asymmetrical, with a flattened bottom section that theoretically eases ingress and egress but is in reality a tangible link to Audi's racing cars. Audi's MMI multi-media interface system is also available when the TT is equipped with a navigation system.
It may sound like an oxymoron, but the TT is a practical sports car. The hardtop version is distinguished from its competitors by offering surprising cargo space under the hatchback's lid, especially with the useless rear seat folded down. With a 66-inch cargo floor and 24.7 cubic feet of space when the seat is flat, the TT will easily carry a dozen grocery bags or two golf bags.
The magnetic ride adjustable suspension allowed me to switch between "Standard" and "Sport" modes. "Standard" has the effect of making Detroit's cratered streets driveable without risking spinal damage. Go back to "Sport" mode, and the TT's fully independent suspension tightens up by means of magneto-rheological fluid in the shocks, bringing the performance up to track-ready levels. In either mode, the TT has quick reflexes and a firm ride thanks to its stiff, aluminum-intensive body structure and lightweight suspension components which ride on aluminum subframes. The TT is a confident and stable handler. .
A choice of turbocharged four-cylinder or V6 power is offered. The 200-horsepower 2.0 liter four-cylinder is shared with other Audi products, and delivers excellent power as well as decent fuel economy thanks to direct-injection fuel delivery. Quattro models step up to the 250-horse 3.2 liter V6. Audi's fantastic S tronic dual-clutch transmission is also available, and I can't sing its praises enough. Coming from a die-hard manual transmission driver, the praise for this selectable automatic tranny is significant indeed. The S tronic six-speed blips through the gears as quickly and smoothly as a video game, whether the foot on the accelerator is gentle or fierce. It's actually faster in outright acceleration than the available six-speed manual gearbox, a reversal of conventional sports-car wisdom.
Maybe it's the weight of the all-wheel drive system, or maybe it's something else, but the TT goes about the business of driving with a decidedly joyless air. Even with 250 horsepower in a lightweight body, the car seems too serious to be as much fun as it ought to. The handling is excellent, the reflexes impressive, but the TT frequently feels as though it would rather be doing something else. Not that Audi owners necessarily expect happy go-lucky performance in the first place, but a small sports car should show at least a small predilection for giggling. TT pricing starts at $34,800. My well-equipped test car stickered for $45,550 thanks to the S line sport package, navigation system, Magnetic Ride suspension and other premium options on board.
Specifications:
Base price: $34,800
Engine: 3.2 liter DOHC V6
Drivetrain: six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, all-wheel drive
Horsepower: 250 @ 6300
Torque: 236 @ 2500-3000
Est. mileage: 18/24
