Review of the sports version of Audi TTS 2019 Version

The Audi TTS of 2019 fascinates us with its design and shakes us by its performance.

20 years after its release, Audi has injected a series of suggestive updates to the TT, a model that Digital Trends has had the opportunity to test on the Isle of Man, the place in the middle of the sea of ​​Ireland where everything is born. Of course, because the name of the model does not refer to "Twin Turbo" as many believe, "but to the motorcycle race" Tourist Trophy ", which has been running since 1907. What does it do to Germany's two-wheeled brand? NSU, one of Audi's historic subsidiaries, triumphed with its machines in the middle of the last century.

Before we submerge ourselves in the test it is important to put on the table a series of historical data that allow us to better understand the philosophy of the model and the place where we experience it.For the moment, it should be noted that NSU has immortalized its achievements on the Isle of Man with a commemorative plaque on his vehicles, introduced for the first time in 1960 on a motorcycle called Quickly TT.The first car to carry it was the sportsman Prinz 1000 TT 1965, which fitted the rear engine, then that two years later it adorned the 1000 TTS.The plate was kept e for 28 years, until Audi has relaunched it for the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1995, on the occasion of the debut of the TT Concept Cup.

Two decades after its launch, the new versions are planned to reach the US coasts in 2019. Although the specific editions that will arrive on this market are not yet determined, it is enough to remember that the current ones have a unique configuration.

Have you taken care of our photos? Maybe you missed the touch screen in the TTS center console (the "S" end called the "Sport" version). If you think we do not know, you are wrong because the manufacturer of the four rings decided to ignore it, simply to save weight. It is better to look to the left, because everything you need is grouped in the group of digital instruments driving.

If you know the Audi news, you will know that the group of digital instruments is known under the trade name. of "virtual badpit" (similarly, with tiny letters). The manufacturer created this concept in 2014 with the TT Coupe model, immediately becoming a point of reference for other brands, as shown by the Lamborghini Huracan and even well-equipped variants of the all-new Volkswagen Jetta.

The TT uses buttons on the steering wheel to set up your 12.3-inch screen. In navigation mode, it provides guidance on the route in real time, occupying its own map or Google Earth. It can also display media options, as well as a list of local radio stations and connectivity options. What we liked most was the engine data page, especially when you're accelerating. It gives us simple and easy-to-read indicators that show the power and torque deliveries of the engine, as well as the thrust of the turbo. This also allows us to know and record G forces, through a very entertaining chart to watch.

Grouping technology on one screen is not easy, but Audi has done a great job with the TT. There were only seven switches left at the controller in the center console. One, located at the left end of the bunch and under the vents, allows the driver to choose between the five driving modes. Until here everything is fine. The problem is that the switch moves the list down rather than up, so choosing the previous mode might force you to go through the other three …

Design icon

Style is an important part of TT history, that is why we badume that the designers have kept the lines virtually unchanged. The new model is clearly seen at first sight as a TT, retaining the clbadic round lid for the fuel tank. If you look closely, you'll notice that they've added a grille with a new, more muscular look in the front bumper and fake vents under the taillights. We warn you, yes, that they match the specifications of the European model, since Digital Trends has noted that the TT that will arrive in the United States will not have this new network for regulatory reasons.

Regarding interior design, we warn you of the changes you will notice in the long run. The TT now comes with rain and light sensors, heated mirrors and illuminated USB ports. The fit and finish are excellent, as one can expect from an Audi, and the red hues of the vehicle we tested illuminated a cabin dominated by darker shades and trim carbon fiber.

At the profile level, the TT does it have the design of the traditional three-body coupe (or volumes, depending on the country from where you read us). It has a long roofline, which reaches its maximum point just above the front seats and leans back without bending just barely. As a result, it has a large pbadenger compartment and a generous boot door that, when open, reveals a surprisingly spacious compartment capable of carrying 12 cubic feet (339 liters). To put in context, we can indicate that the Mercedes-Benz C-Clbad sedan offers up to 12.6 (357) trunk space in its most spacious configuration and 11.8 (334) when It is controlled as a hybrid plug-in. In addition, the rear seats of the TT also fold, which is positive since they are virtually useless for pbadenger transport.

Fast Accuracy

The standard TT is equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. It generates 228 horsepower (CV) and 258 foot-pounds (lb-ft) of torque. Meanwhile, the TTS uses a propeller whose production rises to 292 hp and 280 lb-ft between 1900 and 5300 revolutions per minute (rpm).

Both engines have a new seven-speed automatic transmission and rotate the four wheels through the Audi quattro all-wheel drive system. Andreas Gifhorn, project manager at TT, told Digital Trends that the addition of a seventh report would shorten the top six and improve the acceleration in a straight line without sacrificing it. Fuel economy when traveling at high speed

. , TT prioritized agility to aggression. This is the type of car designed taking into account the maneuverability, not the maximum speed, so it shined when traveling through the fast turns in the closed areas of the mountainous area of ​​the island of Man.The direction is communicative and well weighed: you have to point the front to where you want the rest of the car to obey. It does not seem as playful or balanced as a BMW 2 Series powered, because the particularity of the TT is to offer a driving experience marked by precision and grip. Do not let your red paint and spoiler fool you: this Audi a scalpel, not a club.

Power is also part of the packaging. The powerful four-cylinder engine brings out its full torque as soon as the turbocharger throws it out of the turns. If you have the necessary skills and you do not run any risk to your safety or that of others, notice at this point the raising of the tachometer needle that goes up when you activate the steering wheel paddle.

Another noticeable aspect is the dual-clutch automatic transmission, since the shift paddles place the next gear up or down in a split second and in one click. In this section, one can not help wondering how the TTS would behave with a six-speed manual transmission: you'll never know, unless you build it yourself, because a TTS with three pedals Never saw the light of day in Ingolstadt. Both engines have a new seven-speed automatic transmission and rotate all four wheels through the quattro all-wheel drive system.

Editor's recommendations