Audi’s TT-lating ride

LED MATRIX headlights give the Audi TT a futuristic sense.

Audi’s latest Bauhaus-inspired masterpiece, the thirrd generation Audi TT has grown up, matured, and evolved beautifully. With it comes the improvement in build quality, materials, and of course, driving quality.

Based on the Volkswagen-Audi Group’s MQB platform sharing matrix, the latest TT shares its underpinnings with the latest Audi A3, Volkswagen Golf MK7, Skoda Octavia and Seat Leon.

It’s also lighter by 50 kilograms versus the second generation, which itself was lighter than the first by 100 kg in total.

Audi is taking the lightweight ethos seriously as the reduced mass not only helps acceleration, braking and cornering but fuel efficiency as well. Almost all of the exterior body panels utilize aluminum to help reduce weight.

The wheelbase has also been extended by 37 millimeters to improve high-speed stability, but the overall length has remained the same, which gives the third generation TT shorter front and rear overhangs which aids in cornering, as well as in tight parking lot maneuvering.

The front is underpinned by a Macpherson strut suspension while the rear has a more advanced multilink design, a huge departure from its predecessor which used an archaic torsion bar/axle.

Power for the locally available units comes from an amazing 2.0 TFSI turbocharged fuel-stratified injection or direct-injected engine (codenamed EA888) that delivers an amazing 230 horsepower and 370 Newton-meters of torque driving the front wheels via Audi’s S-Tronic six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

It might not seem much given today’s standards, but when working in perfect harmony, it’s enough to scare you senseless on twisting, winding mountain roads.

ON THE road, the Audi TT has everyone rubbernecking.

Inside, the Audi Virtual Cockpit replaces the traditional analog instrument cluster. A large 12.3-inch LCD screen shows vehicle and engine speed, navigation, the in-car computer and Audi MMI multimedia Infotainment system. It’s a big push on Audi’s part as its latest Q7 SUV and A4 sedan debuting soon, also have the same setup.

The first Audi TT oohed and aahed the motoring masses with so much details plus the ground-breaking design, establishing Audi as a leader in fine automotive design.

The baseball stitch interior was perhaps the most popular option. The second generation TT was simplified yet retained its shape and quirkiness, while the latest one sought to simplify further,  in essence adding more elegance and class to its simplicity.

THE AUDI Virtual Cockpit replaces the traditional analog instrument cluster.

The Audi MMI system virtually fades unnoticed onto the center console, while the five air-conditioner vents shaped like turbines look so simple yet so artistically beautiful, they belong in a museum of modern art.

The three central vents house the controls for the A/C system: the left controls blower speed, the center controls the thermostat, and the right controls the other functions such as vents, blower direction, etc.

Audi’s latest MMI syncs seamlessly to your mobile phone really quickly as well, very useful and helpful when you’re late and rushing to work.

The TT has side airbags, dual front airbags and curtain airbags for a total of six, and comes standard with traction/stability control and ABS-EBD brakes with four-wheel discs all around.

POWER comes from an amazing 2.0 TFSI turbocharged fuel-stratified injection engine.

The wheels are 18×8 wearing 245/40R18 Continental Summer Performance Sport Contact tires.

So much on specs, so many toys and goodies, but is it all just skin-deep?

With some time on my hands, I took the Audi TT to Tanay, up the Sierra Madre mountains via Marcos Highway. While the TT makes for a surprisingly excellent daily driver, thanks to oodles of space inside plus the adjustable steering effort and suspension firmness via Audi’s standard Drive Select mode, keen enthusiasts will wonder how it would handle the infamous “Tanayburgring,” as local enthusiasts have dubbed it.

So after breaking out of the Cogeo Market traffic, I set the Drive Select in Dynamic Mode to harden the suspension, weigh up the steering, increase both engine and transmission responsiveness, and let the engine breath louder. Then I floored it!

Truthfully, the TT displays somewhat alarming torque steer: If the ground is less than “baby bottom” smooth, the car pulls noticeably to the driver’s side (heavier side, which has more traction). On cornering, there’s significant understeer at turn-in. There’s also a bit of lift-off oversteer if you’re not neat with your braking and turning.

THE HALF-LEATHER, half-Alcantara seats are very comfortable and supportive.

So back to basics: Accelerate and brake hard in a straight line, turn in gently, and roll on the throttle as you pass the apex.

Once you accept the TT’s foibles, it’s a real hoot to drive!

The engine is über-responsive. The brakes offer fade-free performance, and though slightly overassisted, give excellent modulation once you get used to the pedal feel.

The steering itself is actually very good for an electric-power system. Feel is decent: it weighs up evenly as you wind in more lock, and unwinds itself naturally without too much of an exaggerated self-centering feel.

It doesn’t have the steering purity of a Porsche, which costs more—a lot more.

The regenerative braking system also helps improve stopping power as it charges the battery, and the suspension copes well with even the most undulating terrain.

I feel that the Continentals are a poor choice for Philippine roads as they feel somewhat brittle and cancel out a lot of feel while transmitting more NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) through to the chassis. A switch to Bridgestones or Michelins would improve ride, handling and NVH isolation significantly.

Flat-out, the TT definitely has everyone rubbernecking. The LED matrix headlights give it a futuristic sense. The Bauhaus-inspired shape is unique, and the interior is a very special place to be in.

The aforementioned dash is clean and simple, the flat-bottomed three-spoke steering wheel shouts “grab me by the horns,” and the half-leather, half-Alcantara seats are very comfortable and supportive.

Later on the highway, the TT displayed its true strength: a high-speed ’bahn-blaster capable of covering hundreds of motorway miles while making the drive more exciting.

Objectively, the TT has some foibles that can be a deal-breaker. But take it for what it is—a sporty, stylish coupe that has oodles of practicality (the big boot can swallow a surprisingly large amount of cargo, and should you drop the rear seats, two golf bags will fit), is surprisingly fuel-efficient (12 kilometers per liter in the city, almost 10 kpl on my spirited drive), and is loaded with safety and convenience gear.

It’s super fun to drive, and the styling is unique and will remain timeless, a true design icon. It’s a keeper.

I’ll take mine in silver, with the S-Line 19-inch alloy wheels, diamond-quilted leather/Alcantara seats, and that subtle but more aggressive body kit.