The next Audi TT will be much lighter, more efficient and better to drive than ever. And our exclusive image gives you a glimpse of its new design, which maintains the current car's basic shape, but with a dramatic new front end. (Click to Tweet)
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Engineers working on the third-generation TT want to close the handling gap to the Boxster – produced by Audi’s fellow VW Group brand, Porsche. But they aim to do so without affecting the Audi’s reputation for style, luxury and everyday usability.
This will be achieved in a number of ways. Firstly, Audi plans to cut the TT’s kerbweight, which has knock-on benefits for the dynamics, fuel consumption and performance. Under the skin will be the VW Group’s new MQB platform. It uses high-strength hot-formed steel and allows thinner-section members to be employed, giving a stiffer and lighter basic chassis.
Add in a bodyshell made predominantly from aluminium and the new model should be over 60kg lighter than the current car. That brings it down to around 1,200kg – just 35kg more than an A1 1.6 TDI.
Audi recently revealed the TT ultra quattro concept at the Worthersee show in Austria. Based on the current-generation TT it slashes an incredible 300kg from the kerbweight through extensive use of lightweight materials such as carbon-fibre, magnesium, aluminium and titanium. Audi has already hinted that it could point towards a extremely low volume production car, but its unclear whether that will be a run out model for the current car, or use the new 2014 TT as a basis.
Another benefit of the new MQB platform is that the front wheels are moved forward, while the engine stays in the same place. This creates a longer wheelbase, which should improve the ride, plus a shorter front overhang. And it means the engine will be mounted further back between the wheels. The result is better weight distribution and more predictable handling.
Although the overall teardrop silhouette will be retained, the styling will be sharper and more aggressive than the MkI and MkII TTs. Inspiration comes from the e-tron and e-tron Spyder concepts seen at 2010’s Detroit and Paris Motor Shows, as well as more recent show cars such as the Crosslane Coupe 'Q2' concept shown in Paris at the end of last year.
Slimmer headlights and a three-dimensional grille sharpen up the front end, while full-width LED tail-lamps will emphasise the wide, muscular haunches. Although the car in our images is the 2+2 coupe, the TT will also be offered as a Roadster – and this will stick with a lightweight fabric roof.
Inside, Audi is expected to push the boundaries of quality yet again. There will be tactile leather and chunky aluminium trim, while the dashboard will be dominated by an eight-inch touchscreen. Although it’s a bit smaller than an iPad (which has a 9.7-inch display), owners will be able to swipe through the various menus in the same way.
Four-cylinder engines will again form the bulk of the line-up, with most TTs sold featuring 1.8 and 2.0-litre TFSI engines ranging from 180bhp to 220bhp. There will also be a cleaner and more powerful version of the existing 168bhp 2.0-litre TDI diesel, capable of over 60mpg.
It’s unclear whether Audi will offer the cylinder deactivation technology seen on the 138bhp A1 Sportback 1.4 TFSI on the larger 1.8 and 2.0 engines, but an engineer told us it was a definite possibility.
At the top of the range, the TT-S will get an all-new 2.0-litre turbo, producing 275bhp and 380Nm of torque. But the TT-RS will stick with a reworked version of its five-cylinder 2.5-litre TFSI, boosted to around 375bhp.
The new TT is expected to go on sale in early 2014, although we’ll get our first glimpse of the car some time in late 2013.
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The front looks nice but I don't like the back.... it looks dated already!
The front is too boring aggressive. On the back, is good to see that they've forgotten the rounded back and now are using a Kamm-back (far better aerodynamics). But they will never get the light bar homologated, it is not allowed in Europe to have one single rear light.
It's not a single light though if you look at it, it's in multiple separate sections.
Just an A7 scaled down, suppose thats all we should expect from Audi and the worse design house possibly in the world.
In the dark you will see one light, although there are three sections.
I think it looks great, I like the more muscular shape, it's more masculine looking than the previous generations, although I did love the first TT, minus the add-on rear spoiler. I'm not sure how the rear lights will work, perhaps the brake light will be the top row and the tail lights will be the bottom, so there will only be the horizontal 'bar' when the car brakes.
That's an awful lot of fake grill-over-black-plastic-nothing, even by Audi standard? Quite a lot of exhaust finishers close to body-plastics too.
Is this not another AE lash-up? That contour on the door doesn't seem quite right. Rear-wheels are too far out of their arches?
Why???
Its a new audi sports coupe - we know what it'll look like. Fancy LED lights, similar shape to previous TTs, same shape lights as the new A6, A5, A4, Q3 etc, with a slightly wider grill.
Of course this is an "exclusive" - AE are the only ones publishing a picture drawn by AE.
That said, Autocar are doing the same. Their "exclusive" image is different to the AE version - will either be right?
The overall syle is a touch comic-book-hero-muscular which is a strange development given that most of the Audi TTs that I see are driven by women.
Jaguar are going down a similar, brutal-ish road with the XK series development. What will be the appeal of these cars in 20 years time I wonder.
it's getting better... a little better all the time.
looks a bit like the lovechild of the current TT and an A5.......not sure about it really.
The retro look of the back seems to be coming back in although it kind of reminds me of an ex communists car,,,if you squint it looks a bit like a 1990 Dacia Logan from behind. Still another car for the hairdressers.
These images are just Photoshop guess-work. These images are based on the forthcoming "Audi Quattro" retro car as a re-birth of the original Audi Quattro Rally Car and based on a shortened A5 Chassis. This model is due 2014-2015. Please ignore these false images and story typical of todays media.
The mk1 TT was an innovative, fun, slightly retro car, a reall individual.
Since then its just got more ordinary, even if it is flashier.
This is just some car.
And that is the worst thing you can say about a car.
Look at rear view.. rear & side flanks are totally out of place & proportion to whats sitting on top [windows, roof etc.], yes of course its a photoshop rendering. While i do like the present TT, & absolutely detest EVERYTHING else Audi are making at present, i bet you a million $ they will ruin the next generation TT. Who's open for bets on a TT Avant, TT allroad, TT pickup etc etc.???
If your comment above is true, how does the new (production) Saab 95 get away with the same appearance of a single strip tail light?
Very overdue.......the current one is either love or hate!
The new one is BEAUTIFUL.
It's R8 at the front and A5 at the back.
I hope I get to own one...............lottery.............
The current car looks amazing, this one looks even better
Looks OK but t's just a TT roof photoshopped on to the Quattro concept:
http://www.audi.com/etc/medial...
I've always liked the TT, other Audis are boring generic design.
The rear image of this car is all wrong, as people have said it looks like R8 at the fonrt and A5 at back. The original TT was instantly recognisable because it didn't look like anything else!!
Audi have definately lost their design flair, the A2 has gone and now the TT.
SO COOL? Have to laugh every time I see one on the road they look so dumb... LOOl LOOL when I see a little granny behind the wheel
yeah it looks wicked, and the Boxster looks old, BUT the Boxster is a great car to drive and the TT just isn't. They need to work on the drive, as well as the looks IMHO.
quelle loock
The old concept picture looked great.
This looks like an A3 with a beetle body. Not impressed if I'm being honest. Had much higher hopes from the concept picture a year ago
Complete nonsense picture. I've seen the actual car in Audi AG. The badge position and the grille shape is correct; the rest is 100% imagination.