MOTORING NEWS - Audi has started advance sales of the upgraded TT series 20 years after the debut of the original TT. The compact sports car now has a tauter exterior design, a more powerful engine and a wider range of standard equipment.
The limited-edition "TT 20 years" anniversary model is a homage to the success story of the Audi TT.
The TT 20 years anniversary model is limited to 999 cars.
Its details are inspired by the TTS Roadster concept study, which premiered in 1995 at the Tokyo Motor Show. The seats, door panels and console of the centre tunnel are upholstered in fine Nappa leather in moccasin brown, while the decorative leather strips and Panuka contrasting stitching are a modern interpretation of the original show car's interior.
A badge with a unique serial number as well as "TT 20 years" badges on the steering wheel and gear lever knob adorn the cockpit. Aluminum wheels in gloss metal grey, specially designed exhaust tailpipes, Matrix OLED rear lights and matt Audi rings above the side sills add highlights to the exterior.
PERFORMANCE
Customers can choose between two different shades of grey for the paintwork. The TT 20 years is available as a coupé or a roadster. For 20 years, the Audi TT has been synonymous with driving pleasure. With this update, Audi has honed the sporty character of the third generation.
Audi offers two direct-injection gasoline engines for the new TT. The option with 145kW in the 40 TFSI has an official combined fuel consumption of 6,3 per 100km and CO² emissions of 145 to 137g/km as a new entry-level engine. The 180kW engine in the 45 TFSI with a combined fuel consumption of 7,3 litres per km also has an official CO² emissions figure of 166 to 147 per g/km.
The optional S line exterior package particularly highlights the sporty character of the Audi TT with striking details on the front, side sills and rear.
With the new seven-gear S tronic, the lower gears now have a shorter ratio for better driving dynamics. The TT coupé sprints from 0 to 100km in 6,6 seconds, while the 45 TFSI officially does it in just 5,9 seconds. For the more powerful engine, Audi also offers the option of quattro all-wheel drive for even better traction and driving dynamics.
EXTERIOR
The exterior design of the new TT is now sharper and more progressive. The single frame radiator grille is highly sculpted, with large side air intakes emphasising the car's firm hold on the road. At the rear, horizontal lines also underscore the width of the compact sports car. As an option, Audi can supply the headlights in LED or Matrix LED technology including dynamic turn signals.
The optional S line exterior package particularly highlights the sporty character of the Audi TT with striking details on the front, side sills and rear. It is complemented by the S line sport package with the S sport seats and the body lowered by 10mm.
Three new colours have been added to the range of paint finishes: cosmos blue, pulse orange and turbo blue (S line).
INTERIOR
For the highly driver-oriented interior, special elements such as the inner rings of the air vents, are available in the new colours satin orange and turbo blue. Even the basic version of the new Audi TT is equipped with the Audi drive select driving dynamics system. The driver can control all infotainment and voice control functions via the multi-function steering wheel.
The displays appear in the Audi virtual cockpit, where the driver can choose between two different views. In all versions, devices such as smartphones can be connected via an illuminated USB socket and by Bluetooth.
The TT 20 years special edition is exclusively available as a 45 TFSI quattro 40. South Africans can also order online and vehicles are expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2019.
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