More grip and go for Audi's TT

AUDI Germany is attempting to broaden the appeal of its sports TT Coupe and Roadster by adding new engines to the range, and locally the company is looking closely at bringing all of the new variants here as part of its widely publicised expansion plans.

In Europe, Audi has just released an entry-level 1.8 TFSI petrol version, which will roll out at the same time as a quattro all-wheel drive version of the 2.0 TFSI, which up until now was only available in front-wheel drive guise in the current generation. Both new models are under consideration for release in Australia in 2009, as is the TT 2.0 TDI turbo-diesel, just recently released in Germany.



The 1.8 TFSI is a new Volkswagen Group engine that we first saw in Australia in the Skoda Octavia last year and in the recently arrived Audi A4, and comes as a front-wheel drive only with a choice of six-speed manual or S tronic automated manual transmissions in coupe and roadster bodies. The 1.8 TFSI develops 118kW at 5000-6200rpm and 250Nm at 1500-4500rpm. The existing 2.0 TFSI, which will continue on sale alongside the new 1.8 TFSI, develops 147kW at 5100-6000rpm and 280Nm at 1800-5000rpm.

The new 1.8 TFSI may be the cheapest TT on the shelf, but given its behaviour so far in the Octavia and A4, it’s a gem of an engine - smooth, free revving, flexible and economical - if not blisteringly quick.

Certainly going by Audi’s figures, the new base-model TT is not in quite the same performance league as its 2.0-litre sibling. Audi quotes a 7.2 second 0-100km/h sprint for the 1.8 TFSI Coupe manual (7.4 seconds for the roadster). The coupe’s top speed is 226km/h (223km/h for the roadster). These figures are a notch down on the existing 2.0 TFSI Coupe’s 6.6 seconds 0-100km/h sprint (6.4 seconds for S tronic) and 240km/h top speed. The 2.0 TFSI S tronic Roadster achieves figures of 6.5 seconds and 237km/h.

Where the new 1.8-litre shines is in fuel consumption. Audi quotes an average figure of 6.7L/100km for the coupe and 6.9L/100km for the roadster. This compares with 7.7L/100km for the 2.0 TFSI Coupe and 7.8L/100km for the 2.0 TFSI Roadster In Germany, the new 1.8 TFSI Coupe six-speed manual will sell for $5462 less than the cheapest equivalent 2.0 TFSI in Germany.

Audi has also announced a new quattro version of the 2.0 TFSI for Europe, which uses the same quattro all-wheel drive system used in the 3.2 quattro. It activates all-wheel drive via an electronically controlled and hydraulically activated multi-disc clutch, which Audi claims works even more quickly than before thanks to a new accumulator. Within milliseconds, it redirects power from the front transaxle to the rear wheels when the wheel sensors detect wheelslip.

Audi has already broadened its TT range in Europe earlier in the year with the introduction in Europe of the TT 2.0 TDI turbo-diesel. The 2.0 TDI develops 125kW at 4200rpm and 350Nm at 1750-2500rpm. The 2.0 TDI has a six-speed manual transmission and quattro all-wheel drive system.

Performance figures for the 2.0 TDI Coupe are quoted by Audi as 7.5 seconds to 100km/h and a top speed of 226km/h (7.7 seconds and 223km/h for the 2.0 TDI Roadster). The fuel consumption average as quoted by Audi in Germany is just 5.3L/100km.

Meantime, Audi Australia has already confirmed the TT-S will arrive in local showrooms in July. The stove-hot high-output 2.0 TFSI-powered coupe and roadster develops 200kW at 6000rpm and 350Nm from 2500rpm to 5000rpm, and in coupe manual quattro form is good for a 0-100km/h sprint in 5.4 seconds, a 250km/h top speed and average fuel consumption of 8.0L/100km. Given its slight price premium over the 3.2 V6 quattro in Germany, expect a local price starting from around the $95,000 mark.

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