Audi TT (2018) Facelift: From 35,900 euros

Audi TT (2018) Facelift

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09.01.2019

• Motors
• Driving report TTS
• Equipment and prices
• Conclusion

N after four years of construction, Audi is changing the look and performance of the third TT generation. The base gets more features, and for the 20th birthday of the original version there are two limited special models.

For Audi, the TT has the status of a design icon that influences other models, shapes the brand's design and shapes the image . Accordingly, the designers carefully changed the look of the coupé and roadster for the facelift - if you want to notice the facelift, you have to look closely. The changes are particularly noticeable with more equipment, more powerful engines and higher prices.

The look is quickly dealt with: flatter single frame with honeycomb pattern, next to larger air inlets. The sill trims are more pronounced, there is a new diffuser at the rear. The aim of the designer: lower the visual focus. The dimensions remain practically the same; at 4.19 meters, the TT is more compact than some compact ones. And light: the base weighs 1,285 kilograms without the driver. The body consists of an aluminum-steel mix, Audi does not change anything on the aluminum outer panels. There are three new colors for this: Cosmos blue for all TT as well as arrow gray, pulse orange and turbo blue for S Line and TTS.

Audi

This Audi TT S has one of the new colors from the range - pulse orange.

Audi

So that we journalists would all arrive safely at the other end , Audi let us drive behind an instructor.

That is as liberating as it reads - if you are on the road at the right time . If the motivated motorcyclists are factored out, the average speed outside of town seems to be a relaxed 70 to 100 km /h. The alternative: Simply let the police cordon off a long section of the Mountain Road for an Audi TTS column. So that we journalists would all arrive safely at the other end, Audi let us drive behind an instructor who limited the top speed to 90 miles per hour (145 km /h).Presumably, the person in front paid less attention to the high-resolution virtual cockpit display to give the attachment an impression of the engine at higher speeds.

Small turbo lag, lots of punch

Audi

Self-switching in the TT S ? No chance, only dual clutch transmissions are installed.

Audi no longer puts a manual transmission on the engine at the factory - this was made for the TTS deleted from the program. Instead there is only a double coupler. Its now seven gears offer a wider spread: the lower three gears are now shorter, the fourth also a bit, levels 5, 6 and 7 are now longer than before. But it always stays the same when it comes to dual-clutch transmissions from the VW Group: fast shift times, the automatic mode works wonderfully during normal driving - there is just no real manual mode, a defect that we have already seen in Test drives with VW GTI -Models discussed in detail. Auto-shifting doesn't seem to be a matter close to the heart of Audi. How else can the loveless plastic rocker switches be explained with an extremely average click feeling? And that inan Audi sports car interior that is not only of high quality as usual, but also has really cool design features with the screen-free dashboard and the stylish ventilation nozzles plus integrated displays.

Steering and lateral dynamics

Comfort is clearly a matter close to the heart of Audi. In return, the TTS always rolls on the magnetic ride chassis, with which it springs in a very binding manner for the vehicle class. In dynamic mode, not only the shock absorbers but also the steering become tighter, which ensures a consistent hand torque. Nevertheless, the standard progressive steering around the center point remains too indirect for a car with sporty demands. For a clean straight line, with this design it tends not to be corrected at all, which meets the comfort requirement.

On the other hand, the steering only becomes sporty as soon as the central position has been overcome. When turning in, the initial steering feel simply does not match the lateral dynamic performance of the TTS: The Audi drives around corners much more sportily than the steering around the central position suggests. You get used to it relatively quickly and the driving pleasure is ultimately more than decent - but the question remains how the overall impression would change with a slightly sharper steering.

Extended equipment, higher prices

Bluetooth, USB, Drive Select, light and rain sensors and a multifunction steering wheel will be standard in the future. The base model with 197 hp will cost from 35,900 euros in future, while the 245 hp version will cost from 38,750 euros. The Roadster starts at 38,300 euros, the 245 hp version is available from 41,150 euros. The prices for the TTS Coupé start at 54,400 euros, the TTS Roadster is available from 57,200 euros.

Special models: 20 years and Competition

For the facelift, Audi is bringing two special models onto the market: the 'TT 20 years' limited to 999 pieces and the sporty 'TTS Competition'. The 'TT 20 years' special model cites the original model in some places. The round tailpipes and the 19-inch five-spoke wheels are to be understood as quotations, as are the mocha-brown leather seats with contrasting stitching. The anniversary model is limited to 999 pieces, available as a coupé or roadster and available in nano gray or arrow gray.

Among other things, the TTS Competition has LED headlights, a fixed rear wing, black 20-inch wheels and foiled Audi rings on the flank. The special model is available in glacier white, tango red and mythos black. The seats are leather-covered in red or gray, depending on the interior there are decorative elements in gray or red. The ventilation nozzle rings are red, the Alcantara steering wheel rim also has a red 12 o'clock marking. The prices of the special models have not yet been determined.