The Audi TT is turning 20 years old this year, and to commemorate that milestone, Audi is rolling out a special edition model, called the 20th Anniversary Edition. The exclusive touches included in the TT 20th Anniversary Edition are mostly cosmetic in nature, including a pair of paint colors that are exclusive to the model. Audi only plans to sell 999 units of the TT 20th Anniversary Edition, and only 80 units of that total volume will arrive in the U.S. market. The starting price for the coupe version sits at $52,900 while the roadster version starts at $56,800. The Audi TT 20th Anniversary Edition is available to order now.

2019 Audi TT 20th Anniversary Edition

Specifications
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  • Model: 2019 Audi TT 20th Anniversary Edition
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What makes the Audi TT 20th Anniversary Edition special

Twenty years and three generations in, the Audi TT is still going strong. The TT is one of Audi’s most enduring models, so it’s only fitting that as the sports coupé is celebrating its 20th birthday, Audi’s rolling out the red carpet to give it the anniversary it deserves. If there’s ever an Audi model that deserves to have a 20th Anniversary Edition, it’s the TT.

So, what’s good about the Audi TT 20th Anniversary Edition? First, you might have to temper your expectations a bit. The special edition TT does not come with an engine upgrade. It’s also not available to the hotter TTS and TT-RS variants of the sports car. You’ll have to make peace with the fact that if you buy the TT 20th Anniversary Edition, you’re getting a model that’s powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 220 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This version of the TT is still good for a sprint-to-60-mph time of just 5.3 seconds. You’re also looking at a top speed of 130 mph for this special edition TT. It’s not German-level fast, but it’s still fast.

Now, let’s talk about what makes the Audi TT 20th Anniversary Edition special. The first thing you’ll notice is the color of the sports car’s body. If you’re not down with this exclusive-to-the-TT color, you can opt for the much flashier…Nimbus Gray Metallic paint finish. Ok, so neither of these two exclusive colors pop out, but perhaps there’s a reason for that. In any event, Audi differentiates the TT 20th Anniversary further by adding a number of black exterior trim elements throughout the body and borrowing the OLED taillights from the hotter TT RS version. The German automaker also installed a trumpet-style exhaust at the back and, as most special edition models go, the TT 20th Anniversary Edition gets a smattering of anniversary badging to identify itself as a “special” kind of sports car. The special edition TT also sits on a set of exclusive 19-inch five-spoke wheels dressed in a Gunmetal finish. Overall, the exterior look of the TT 20th Anniversary Edition looks relatively subdued for what’s supposed to be a special edition model. Fortunately, that all changes once you step inside the car.

The interior, for all intents and purposes, is the highlight of the TT 20th Anniversary Edition. At the very least, this is where you’ll find the callback to the OG TT. All coupé and roadster versions of the TT 20th Anniversary Edition feature an interior that’s dressed to the nines in Moccasin brown Fine Nappa leather, complete with custom yellow contrast stitching.

For those who are unaware of the TT’s history, Audi’s chairman at the time, Herbert Demel, described it as “an enthusiast’s car with great charisma.” Still, Audi actually didn’t have any plans to build a production model straight away. Demel even stressed that the TT Concept was simply a “design study” at the time. Fortunately, the public intervened and voiced it’s desire to see a production model of the TT Concept. Audi also attended the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show to unveil the TT Concept’s roofless sister, the TTS Roadster. It generated the same reaction as the TT Concept, which convinced Audi to begin the process of turning the two concepts into production models. Three years later, the first-generation Audi TT made its début at the 1998 Paris Auto Show, catching everyone by surprise.

20 years later, and here we are. The Audi TT is two decades old and has three generations under its belt. The current-generation model has been around since 2014, and given how each of the previous two generations had eight-year lifespans, it’s safe to say that end of the road is near for the third-generation model. That would mean that the new TT is going to be bigger than its predecessors, though that shouldn’t cause any technical problems since it’s pegged to ride on an updated version of the Volkswagen Group’s versatile MQB platform. The fourth-generation TT will also be offered with an array of mild-hybrid gasoline and diesel engines, a plug-in hybrid setup, and even a pure electric powertrain.

As intriguing as these details are, that’s still a story for another time. For now, the new Audi TT 20th Anniversary Edition takes its rightful place in center stage. Better get you’re wallets and checkbooks ready, too, because the coupé version of the TT 20th Anniversary Edition starts at $52,900 while the roadster version starts at $56,800. The Audi TT 20th Anniversary Edition is available to order now.

2019 Audi TT Specifications

Audi TT

Audi TTS

Engine

2.0-liter four-cylinder

2.0-liter four-cylinder

Displacement

1,984 cc

1,984 cc

Bore and stroke

82.5x92.8

82.5x92.8

Transmission

Six-speed S tronic®

Six-speed S tronic®

Horsepower @ rpm

220 @ 4,500-6,200

288 @ 5,400-6,200

Torque (lb-ft @ rpm)

258 @ 1,600-4,400

280 @ 1,900-5,300

Acceleration (0-60 mph)

5.3/5.6 seconds

4.4 seconds

Top Speed

130 mph

155 mph


Further reading

Read our full review on the 2019 Audi TT.

Read our full review on the 2018 Audi TT.

Read our full review on the 2018 Audi TT RS.

Read our full speculative review on the 2019 Audi TT RS.