Audi TT Coupe - small size...big impact

Audi TT Coupe - small size...big impact 

Audi TT Coupe - small size...big impact

Still turning heads after more than a decade on our roads, the Audi TT Coupe rolls luxury accommodations and athletic performance into one compact, highly stylized package. Putting the sumptuous wrapper aside for the moment, the TT delivers five-second-plus 0-60 miles-per-hour acceleration and uncanny road-holding capability. A blast to drive? Yes! Fun to be seen in? You bet! Will it answer the call of your mid-life crisis? Indubitably!

Probably three years have passed since I was last in an Audi TT, and that was while still living in South Florida where Ferrari 430s, Bentley Continentals and Aston Martin DB9s were stacked four deep at every intersection. Well, at least it seemed that way. In any event, an Audi TT went pretty much unnoticed on A1A. My recent week with a 2011 TT, however, was spent in South Carolina and I was surprised by how much attention it still garners. Passing motorists would flash a "thumbs up;" curbside gawkers would do the same. I was approached in parking lots by the curious as I climbed in or out . I wasn't mobbed as I was with the R8 a couple of years ago, but people did take notice.

That a car can still attract attention after years of traveling our roads is a testament to its styling panache. Offering seating for four, it looks like a two-seater from the curb. In reality, it is a two-seater because the rear seat is little more than a parcel shelf. Its tidy size is ideal for urban warfare, fitting into even today's smallish parking slots with ease. A rakish roofline and bold front end scream "I am fast!"
Audi offers the TT Coupe in two flavors: the $39,175 Premium Plus and the $45,275 Prestige. Most of the upgrades found in the Prestige are available as options on the Premium Plus. There are no mechanical differences between the two. Audi also makes soft-top roadster versions. My test Audi was the Premium Plus Coupe.

Get-up-and-go comes from a 211 horsepower turbocharged 2-liter four-cylinder engine. Quattro is Audi-speak for all-wheel drive, and it is standard on every TT. Power flows from the engine to the rubber via a six-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission. Audi calls it S-Tronic. In simple terms, it's a driver-shiftable automatic. Although purists may bemoan the disappearance of a traditional manual transmission from the TT's equipment list, the only thing really missed is the physical activity of depressing a clutch and stirring the shift lever. Steering wheel-mounted shift paddles literally put gear changes at the driver's fingertips. You can also effect gear changes through the shift lever by sliding it over to the manual mode.

Reaching 60 miles per hour from a standstill can be achieved in less than six seconds. For a car with AWD, TT's spryness and fuel efficiency are fairly impressive. The EPA estimates its fuel economy at 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.
Working with AWD to help keep the TT locked onto the pavement, is its tightly tuned four-wheel independent suspension. MacPherson struts in front and a four-link arrangement in the rear provide decent ride quality and formidable road-holding capability. Front heavy, the TT pushes into the corners a bit at speed, but most drivers probably won't be aggressive enough to notice. Steering response is good and can be boosted by engaging the "Sport" button found at the base of the shift lever. Doing so also increases the exhaust note.

Four-wheel disc brakes with antilock reel in forward motion and include the typical range of safety features such as stability control, traction control, electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency braking assist. Inside, six airbags help protect occupants if a crash does occur. The seat-mounted side-impact airbags also offer head protection. Both driver and front-seat passenger have knee airbags as well.

Although swathed in leather with alloy accents, the cabin is tilted much more toward sporty than luxurious. Deeply contoured front seats offer scads of lateral support. Both have multiple power adjustments that include lumbar support. Featuring redundant audio controls, the leather-wrapped steering wheel is a sporty three-spoke design with a flat bottom. Large, round analog gauges provide key driver information. Audi has a reputation for high-quality interiors and the TT contributes to that rep.

Getting in and out of the TT requires some degree of effort. Once inside, however, driver and front passenger have plenty of space. The rear seat can either be used for storage as is, or it can be folded down to increase rear cargo space from 13 cubic feet to nearly 25 cubic feet.

Included in the base price is the full range of luxury equipment. Automatic climate control, automatic rain-sensing wipers, full power accessories, remote keyless entry, heated front seats and outboard mirrors, electrochromatic rearview mirror, trip computer, and a nine-speaker audio system with CD player, satellite radio and auxiliary input jack are all standard.

Granted, the TT is a bit impractical. It certainly qualifies as a daily driver when only one or two people are on the passenger manifest. Enthusiasts will enjoy its performance, yet less aggressive drivers will be won over by its comfortable cabin and amenities. It may be small, but it makes a big impact.