Audi TT ‘to outshoot rival two-seaters’
BY BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS | 20th Feb 2015
Hoping to top the 943-unit record achieved by the previous (Mk2) generation in its first year of sales in 2007, the company is erring on the conservative side by publically saying the newcomer should find about 800 buyers for the remainder of 2015.
According to Audi Australia product planning manager Peter Strudwicke, the Mk3 TT should receive a big helping hand from higher-performance versions such as the TTS coming in the third quarter of this year, as well as the rumoured TT RS flagship that will invariably follow (although not before 2017).
Both are set to provide compelling reasons for consumers to choose the TT over its rival BMW Z4, Mercedes-Benz SLK and Porsche Boxster/Cayman compatriots.
“We expect it to do at least as well as the second-generation did,” he told GoAuto at the launch of the new TT in Hobart this month.
“In it’s first full year on sale we’re hoping for around 800 units (in Australia). And around 20 per cent will be the TTS when that comes.”Mr Strudwicke revealed that up to 70 per cent of TT sales will be for the 2.0 TFSI S-tronic quattro with all-wheel drive and a dual-clutch automatic transmission, while the base 2.0 TFSI six-speed manual and front-wheel drive will account for only five per cent of volume, despite the more overt sportscar focus of the new generation version.
“Definitely the quattro will be the most popular,” he said. “We’re expecting take-up to be between 60 to 70 per cent, and only about five per cent for the manual, because Australians tend to be steering away from manuals.
“And when the TTS first came out a few years ago, it went up to 25 per cent of volume, but then the RS reduced the TTS volume down to say, about five and 10 per cent, and then the TT RS went up to 30 per cent at one point. So I’m saying around 20 per cent for the new TT S that’s coming.
Audi is confident the new TT will continue to dominate its slice of the $80,000-plus two-seater sports car VFACTS segment.
More than 4000 examples of the previous TT were sold in Australia from January 2007 to the end of last year, compared to nearly 3700 SLKs, just under 2400 Boxster/Cayman and a little more than 1400 Z4s during the same time frame.
