Audi TT Roadster - ABC Leasing

Car & Driving
The independent definitive Audi TT Roadster video review

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    OPEN SEASON(some text hidden)

    By Jonathan Crouch


    Ten Second Review word count: 76

    As the production run of this third generation Audi TT Roadster edges towards its end, Ingolstadt has announced well-equipped 'Final Edition' variants and a slimmed-down range reminding us that this car still has a lot to offer. As before, it really makes the numbers when it comes to performance and efficiency. Choose from 2.0 or 2.5-litre petrol, front or quattro all-wheel drive, with potent TT S and TT RS mdels at the top of the range.


    Background word count: 173

    The Audi TT will always be remembered as a coupe. That's an inescapable fact. Despite this, the contribution of the Roadster model to overall sales shouldn't be overlooked, the open car accounting for around 25 per cent of all registrations. Since it first appeared in 1998, the TT Roadster has been a consistent thorn in the side of first the BMW Z3, then the Z4 and all generations of the Mercedes SLK. It's been available in front or four wheel-drive, with power outputs from a modest 150PS right up to the barnstorming 340PS TT RS model. In other words, it's had a very wide brief to fulfil. That's didn't change with this third generation model announced in 2014 and lightly revised since. If the first generation car brought us some extreme styling and the second gen model improved the driving dynamics, this third stab at the formula has done well in taking the best of both prior cars while developing superior safety, refinement and efficiency. But it won't be in production much longer.


    Driving Experience word count: 371

    The TT Roadster features an electrically actuated fabric top. This roof features excellent acoustic and thermal insulation, with particular attention paid to the frequencies generated by the passing airflow. A thick fleece layer on the black inner headlining helps reduce the noise level in the interior by up to 6 dB compared with the old pre-2014-era MK2 generation TT Roadster. In recent years, Audi's tinkered a little with the engine line-up in this revised MK3 model TT Roadster. The engines and transmissions on offer mirror those of the coupe model, which means that the base petrol unit is a 2.0-litre TFSI powertrain with 197PS (badged '40 TFSI'). This engine also comes in 245PS form badged as the '45 TFSI'. There's now no longer a diesel option. The TTS retains its existing badging but recently was tweaked with a slight reduction in power (306PS, down from 310PS) but a little extra torque to compensate, so the rest to 62mph sprint figure (4.5s) is actually fractionally improved. The flagship model remains the 400PS 2.5-litre five cylinder TT RS, which only comes with S tronic auto transmission and can get to 62mph in 3.7s. In conjunction with the 197PS 2.0 TFSI engine, customers now have to have the seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch auto transmission that's standard across the rest of the range. The 245PS 45 TFSI variant comes only with the brand's multi-plate clutch-based quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. The TTS of course features quattro as standard. With Steptronic transmission, the close-ratio lower gears enable powerful acceleration, while the wide ratio of each transmission's highest gear reduces the engine speed and with it fuel consumption. By networking quattro drive with the standard 'drive select' driving mode system, the TT driver can adjust the operating parameters of the all-wheel-drive system to suit his or her individual requirements. In 'auto' mode, optimum traction and balanced driving dynamics are given priority. In 'dynamic' mode, torque is distributed to the rear axle earlier and to a higher degree. In the drive select "efficiency" mode, the set-up can temporarily shut down the quattro system if conditions suit this. Audi's magnetic ride adaptive damper control system is fitted as standard to the TTS and is optional for all other versions.


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    Scoring

    Category: Compact Car

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    Handling
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    Comfort
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    Space
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    Styling
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    Build
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    Value
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    Equipment
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    Total
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