2007 Audi TT

The body

The new Audi TT, like its predecessor, is initially available as a 2 + 2-seater coupe; a roadster model is scheduled for later launch. The dynamic impression that it creates stems from its modified proportions. The coupe is 5.4 in. longer and 3.1 in. wider than its predecessor, but only 0.2 in. higher. It is now 164.5 in. long, 72.5 in. wide and 53.2 in. high. The TT’s wheelbase is 97.2 in.

The interior, too, has benefited from this increase in size: it has grown by 3.0 in. in length to 62.1 in., by 1.4 in. in front shoulder width to 53.2 in. and by

0.9 in. in rear shoulder width to 47.5 in. In the basic configuration, the luggage compartment beneath the large lid accommodates about 10.2 cu. Ft. of luggage. It grows to approximately 24.7 cu. Ft. when the rear seat backs are folded down, and its length of 66.9 in. is ample for two golf bags. With these practical characteristics, the TT Coupe sets standards in its class.

The body of the new TT is constructed in lightweight ASF design. The three letters stand for Audi Space Frame – the ground-breaking aluminium technology developed by the company in the early 1990s for the first A8 series. The ASF combines aluminium and steel for the first time. Aluminium accounts for

69 percent of the weight of the body. Fully galvanised steel components are located principally at the rear of the floor panel. The doors and luggage compartment lid are also made of steel. This ensures that the axle loads are distributed evenly, thus considerably improving the handling of the vehicle.

The bodyshell of the TT weighs 453.2 lbs, 308 lbs. of which is aluminium and 145.2 lbs. steel; were it built entirely of steel, it would be 48 percent heavier. Its low weight is one of the key factors behind the impressive road behaviour of the new TT Coupe. The unladen weight of the TT 2.0T is just 2772 lbs. – placing it at the forefront of this performance class. And the 3.2 quattro weighs only 3102 lbs.

The new-style ASF on the Audi TT features properties that are truly worthy of a genuine sports car. Its static torsional rigidity has been improved by around

50 percent over its predecessor. In terms of crash safety, too, the new TT is utterly uncompromising.

The drivetrain

The new Audi TT is powered by two transversely installed engines – a four-cylinder turbo and a V6. Both units provide it with high levels of power and performance. Their performance enables the TT Coupe to perform impressively on the road.

The optional S tronic dual-clutch gearbox and quattro drive for the V6 – both of them exclusive technologies in the sports coupe segment – transmit the engine’s power into propulsion.

The four-cylinder turbo engine, with the abbreviation TFSI, develops its power from a swept volume of 1,984 cc (2.0 liters). An international jury of experts voted it "Engine of the Year" for two years in succession, in 2005 and 2006 – praise indeed for its innovative technological package. The TFSI combines the Audi-developed gasoline direct injection technology FSI, which has impressively demonstrated its superiority in the R8 racing car, with a turbocharger – a perfect combination.

The four-valve engine responds spontaneously to the throttle and is ultra-refined. It puts 207 ft.-lbs. of torque onto the crankshaft even at engine speeds as low as 1,800 rpm, and is able to keep this high level of torque constant up to 5,000 rpm. The nominal power output of 200 hp is delivered between 5,100 and 6,000 rpm. The 2.0 T accelerates the Audi TT Coupe from 0 to 62 mph in just 6.4 seconds (in the version featuring the S tronic dual-clutch gearbox).

Even more power is on tap from the V6 engine, with its 3,189 cc (3.2 liters) capacity. It develops a maximum torque of 236 ft.-lbs. between 2,500 and 3,000 rpm, and at 6,300 rpm delivers a power output of 250 hp. The characteristic features of the long-stroke unit are the continuous adjustment of all four camshafts – by 52 degrees on the intake side and 42 degrees on the exhaust side – and the extremely narrow cylinder angle of just 15 degrees.

On the road, the 3.2-liter V6 unit reveals itself to be high-torque and high-revving. It produces a fascinatingly sonorous response at every engine speed, emphasising above all the intake sound. The TT 3.2 quattro sprints from a standing start to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds (with S tronic).

The standard-spec transmission is a six-speed manual gearbox in a weight-saving magnesium casing. A technical highlight, and a unique feature in its class for the TT, is the optional S tronic dual-clutch gearbox. The system’s dual-clutch technology enables it to change gear in just 0.2 seconds, producing no discernible interruption to the power flow. In manual mode, the driver does the gear-changing, either by tapping the selector lever or by pulling one of the shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel, like on a racing car.

The four-cylinder TT is a front-wheel-drive model, while the V6 features permanent four-wheel drive. Its quattro drive system operates with an electronically controlled and hydraulically actuated multi-plate clutch. In order to improve the distribution of axle loads, the clutch is placed at the rear of the TT. The mechanical construction and control efficiency of the unit have been further enhanced relative to the predecessor model. In normal conditions, the clutch directs 85 percent of the torque to the front wheels, but in extreme circumstances it is able to transmit as much as 100 percent of the forces to one of the two axles.

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