Audi TT
If you create a design classic, making modifications to it can be a big mistake. The temptation to go under the knife has done nothing but advance the ageing process for some models, so the designers at Audi need to tread a fine line with the TT.
With the lightweight TT Sport, Audi has made a car which has a hint of Porsche about it. Rear-drive rivals still offer greater entertainment, but the Sport feels special and improves on the standard car in nearly every way. It promises to be a genuine collectors' item, and proves that the current TT still has plenty of life left in it.
If you create a design classic, making modifications to it can be a big mistake. The temptation to go under the knife has done nothing but advance the ageing process for some models, so the designers at Audi need to tread a fine line with the TT.
The coupe has been left unchanged for good reason - even six years after its launch, it is still one of the best-looking cars in its class. However, the designers have finally plucked up the courage to make a few racy alterations, and the result is the lightweight TT Sport.
Visually, it would be hard to make a more striking coupe. With the styling pack taken from the V6 model, exclusive alloy wheels and a black painted roof, the latest TT is a real head-turner. The occupants sit low in figure-hugging racing seats, but turn the key, and it is hard not to be a bit disappointed. The removal of the rear bench and 49kg of weight might cause you to expect a raucous exhaust note. Instead, occupants hear the usual muted rumble.
But the Sport redeems itself once on the move. Equipped with a tuned version of the familiar 1.8-litre turbo-charged engine, the new model gets an extra 15bhp and a 30Nm torque increase. Slotting through the six-speed manual gearbox, the Sport delivers punchy performance and is noticeably quicker than its turbo siblings. With revised suspension, the chassis feels taut and stiff. It certainly ruins the ride quality, but it also gives the coupe seemingly limitless grip. Trackday fans will gain more pleasure from a car with rear-wheel-drive, but the TT offers a different kind of fun, with its four-wheel traction providing swift cornering.
At £29,355, the Sport costs £1,780 more than the standard 222bhp version. Increasing the appeal of the TT wasn't easy, but we reckon Audi has succeeded.
