Audi TT

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Audi TT
Second Generation TT
Manufacturer Audi AG
Parent company Volkswagen Group
Production 1999–present
Assembly Győr, Hungary
Class Luxury sport car / Roadster
Body style(s) 2-door coupé
2-door roadster
Layout Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive

The Audi TT is a sports car, produced by Audi since 1998 in Győr, Hungary, available as a 2+2 coupé or two-seater roadster and now in its second generation.

Contents

[edit] Concept and name

The TT was first shown as a concept car at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show. The design is credited to J Mays and Freeman Thomas of Volkswagen's California design studio, with Martin Smith contributing to the award winning interior design. The TT name does not indicate "twin turbo" as is sometimes assumed. The car is named for the NSU TT, a small rear-engine model with a formidable racing pedigree that NSU produced in the 1960s and was based on the NSU Prinz, although the modern TT shares next to nothing with that model's design concepts. The NSU TT was, in turn, named for the famous Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) motorcycle races.

[edit] Design

From its introduction as a concept car in 1995, and as a production car in 1998, the design was regarded by many as innovative. Despite its design, the styling did not lead to revolutionary aerodynamics — the drag coefficient of the body is actually a relatively high 0.35.[1] But with its distinctive, rounded bodywork, the TT represented a styling departure.

[edit] 1st generation TT (8N)

Audi TT (8N)
Audi TT
Production 1999–2006
Platform Volkswagen A4 platform
Engine(s) 1.8L Turbo I4, 3.2L VR6
Transmission(s) 5-speed manual
6-speed manual
6-speed automatic
6-speed DSG
Wheelbase 2422 mm (95.4 in)
Length 4041 mm (159.1 in)
Width 1764 mm (69.4 in)
Height 1346 mm (53 in)
Fuel capacity 55 litres (14.5 US gal/12.1 imp gal)
Related Audi A3
VW Golf
Skoda Octavia
SEAT León
Volkswagen New Beetle
Volkswagen Jetta

The production model (internal designation Typ 8N) was launched as a coupé in September 1998, followed by a roadster in August 1999, based on the Volkswagen A platform used for the Volkswagen Golf, Skoda Octavia and others. The styling differed little from the concept, except for slightly reprofiled bumpers and the addition of a rear quarterlight windows behind the doors. Mechanically, the TT uses a transversely mounted engine with front or quattro all wheel drive. It was first available with a 1.8 L turbocharged inline four cylinder 20-valve engine. with either 180 PS (132 kW) or 225 PS (165 kW). The engines share the same basic design but the 225 PS version features a larger turbocharger, an additional intercooler on the driver's side, forged connecting rods, a dual exhaust, and a few other internals designed to accommodate the increase in turbo boost from roughly 10 psi peak to 15. Quattro was optional on the small engine, and standard on the more powerful version.

Audi TT Roadster
Audi TT Roadster

All TT models were recalled in late 1999/early 2000 following concerns over the car's handling which was considered unstable under high-speed cornering as the result of throttle lift-off oversteer. A number of fatal accidents took place and especially the safety of the car's handling was questioned. As a result, a number of modifications to the car were made which were subsequently incorporated into all future examples: rear-wing spoilers were fitted to reduce lift and suspension settings were altered to increase understeer. The original four cylinder engine range was complemented with a 250 PS (184 kW) 3.2 L VR6 in early 2003, which comes with the quattro all-wheel drive system. In October 2004 a new DSG (dual-clutch) gearbox, which improves acceleration through drastically reduced shift time, was offered along with a stiffer suspension.

Audi also developed a lightened and more powerful "quattro Sport" model, with 240 PS (177 kW) and a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

[edit] 2nd generation TT (8J)

Audi TT (8J)
2008 Audi TT
Production 2006-present
Platform Volkswagen A5 platform
Engine(s) 2.0L Turbo I4
3.2L VR6
Transmission(s) 6-speed manual
6-speed DSG
Wheelbase 2468 mm (97.2 in)
Length 4178 mm (164.5 in)
Width 1842 mm (72.5 in)
Height 1352 mm (53.2 in)
Related Audi A3
VW Golf
Skoda Octavia
SEAT León
Volkswagen Jetta

A TT concept (the Audi Shooting Brake) was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2005. This concept featured angular styling and a "shooting brake" 2-door hatchback body style.[2]

Audi revealed the second-generation TT, internal designation Typ 8J, on April 6, 2006. It is constructed of aluminum in the front and steel in the rear to enhance its balance and is available in front- or all-wheel drive. The production car uses either the 3.2 L VR6 engine, with 250 PS (184 kW), or a 200 PS (147 kW) version of Audi's direct injection 2.0 L four. Better known as FSI, Fuel Straight/Stratified Injection, the technology was derived from the Le Mans race cars and offers improved fuel efficiency as well as an increased power output. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard, with the DSG as an option, and quattro all-wheel drive is standard with the VR6.

Audi's new active suspension, Audi Magnetic Ride, is available as an option and is based on Delphi's MagneRide magneto rheological dampers (which means that the suspension will automatically adjust depending on the current road conditions). The new TT also features an improved rear spoiler that automatically extends at speeds greater than 120 km/h (75 mph) and retracts again at 80 km/h (50 mph). The spoiler can also be manually controlled by the driver via a switch on the dash.[3] It is again offered as a 2+2 coupé and as a roadster.

[edit] Performance models

In the 2008 Detroit Motor Show, Audi released the TTS with a 2.0TFSI engine tuned to 272 PS (200 kW). It is also rumoured that a higher end TT-RS is under development, using an all-new turbocharged 2.5 L 5-cylinder engine capable of up to 350 PS (257 kW).

[edit] Diesel models

In 2008, Audi offered TT Coupé 2.0 TDI Quattro and TT Roadster 2.0 TDI Quattro for the European market.[4] Audi said average fuel consumption on the engine is 5.3 liters/100 km or 44.4 mpg in the coupé variant.[5]

[edit] Awards

The TT was nominated for the North American Car of the Year award for 2000. It was also on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 2000 and 2001.

The second generation TT has been honored with many awards including the inaugural Drive Car of the Year, Top Gear Coupé of the Year 2006, Fifth Gear Car of the Year 2006, Autobild 'Most Beautiful Car' and World Design Car of the Year 2007, as well as being a finalist for World Car of the Year.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Wan, Mark (June 21 2005). Audi TT Coupe. AutoZine. Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
  2. ^ TT Caught Testing. AutoWeek (March 09 2006). Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
  3. ^ 2008 Audi TT. CarGurus (October 07 2007). Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
  4. ^ Jurnecka, Rory (April 29 2008). Audi releases more info, European pricing on TTS and TT TDI. Motor Trend. Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
  5. ^ Lienert, Anita (April 29 2008). Audi TT TDIs Debut - but Not in U.S.. Edmunds. Retrieved on 2008-04-30.

[edit] External links

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