In the world of iconic cars, which include the Austin Mini and the Volkswagen Beetle, silhouettes have always ruled, with its rich history playing the equivalent of a wingman. Unfortunately, while these said cars are still capable, cute and charismatic, they have lost the very raw element that made them attractive to begin with. This element is the loving feeling.
Then there is the Audi TT - the very coupe that held on to the said element for all three generations, including the one you see here. But I'm sure you already knew that was what I was going to say...
What you do not know, however, is how much of a car this TT is. You can almost relate it to the girl you once knew years ago, the one who was arrogant and atas and didn't give a bimbo's bum about you because you were too much of a loser. Then for some unforeseen circumstances and reasons, fate allowed the both of you to cross paths, giving both parties equal, if not agreeable, opportunities to better understand one another. It's only after some time when you realise that she isn't a girl but a lady, and that all the unnecessary loudness and empty talk are merely a façade to hide her vulnerability. There is a sense of overwhelming loving feeling you once felt when you first fell deeply for your first crush in secondary school and you never thought you could feel like this again... until she came along.
That girl is the Audi TT.
Exterior
Despite looking all grown up and matured with its chiselled and angular sheet metal, the car is still instantly recognisable as a TT. Over the past two generations, it has consistently shed its fat for muscles, to the point where Audi's latest iteration of its coupe weighs just slightly over 1.4 tonnes, thanks to the extensive use of aluminium throughout.
Then there is the Audi TT - the very coupe that held on to the said element for all three generations, including the one you see here. But I'm sure you already knew that was what I was going to say...
What you do not know, however, is how much of a car this TT is. You can almost relate it to the girl you once knew years ago, the one who was arrogant and atas and didn't give a bimbo's bum about you because you were too much of a loser. Then for some unforeseen circumstances and reasons, fate allowed the both of you to cross paths, giving both parties equal, if not agreeable, opportunities to better understand one another. It's only after some time when you realise that she isn't a girl but a lady, and that all the unnecessary loudness and empty talk are merely a façade to hide her vulnerability. There is a sense of overwhelming loving feeling you once felt when you first fell deeply for your first crush in secondary school and you never thought you could feel like this again... until she came along.
That girl is the Audi TT.
Exterior
Despite looking all grown up and matured with its chiselled and angular sheet metal, the car is still instantly recognisable as a TT. Over the past two generations, it has consistently shed its fat for muscles, to the point where Audi's latest iteration of its coupe weighs just slightly over 1.4 tonnes, thanks to the extensive use of aluminium throughout.
But the car isn't bulimic in any sense of the word. It still manages to maintain its unfailingly fatal attraction, thanks to a pair of radically tweaked razor sharp headlamps and an overall sexier face, where the R8-styled rings have moved from the dominant grille to the hood.
Despite all that has changed, the dimensions of this latest generation are almost identical to that of its predecessor. At 4,177mm long, 1,832mm wide and 1,353mm tall, the girl of your dreams has grown very slightly over the years, but through the practice of healthy diets and intensive workouts, she has ground-hugging stance and tauter-looking proportions that are hard to ignore.
Nonetheless, it seems almost pointless debating whether the car looks better or worse than, say, the BMW 2 Series Coupe, the Mercedes-Benz SLK or even the Porsche Cayman. Handily, traditionalist and modernists would beg to differ but in our eyes all of them are differently unique and tastefully finished in their own ways.
Interior
When it comes to cabin quality and usability, the Audi TT stands out with its well-executed mix of material goodness and technological superiority. Everything here is brilliantly arbitrated, with a level of attention to details that's so high you'll have to steal a glance at the key fob to remind yourself it's only an Audi you're driving, not a Bentley.
Of course, the highlight of the car is how much of an improvement it has made to the Multi Media Interface (MMI) as well as the architectural and ergonomical layout of the buttons and controls. Despite a daring move of having almost all of the important buttons placed on the steering, comfort and convenience haven't been compromised. You could toggle from the Audi Driving Select button and the radio channels to the navigation and Bluetooth systems without having to take your hands of the steering. Thus, the new dashboard has clutter reduced to the minimum.
When it comes to cabin quality and usability, the Audi TT stands out with its well-executed mix of material goodness and technological superiority. Everything here is brilliantly arbitrated, with a level of attention to details that's so high you'll have to steal a glance at the key fob to remind yourself it's only an Audi you're driving, not a Bentley.
Of course, the highlight of the car is how much of an improvement it has made to the Multi Media Interface (MMI) as well as the architectural and ergonomical layout of the buttons and controls. Despite a daring move of having almost all of the important buttons placed on the steering, comfort and convenience haven't been compromised. You could toggle from the Audi Driving Select button and the radio channels to the navigation and Bluetooth systems without having to take your hands of the steering. Thus, the new dashboard has clutter reduced to the minimum.
The most common flawed characteristic of a 2+2 coupe remains to be the rear seating space and the TT hasn't clawed its way out of this disadvantage. Perhaps it's the importance of keeping the car compactly wrapped for driving dynamics or it could also be due to the fact that buyers of such a car wouldn't be too hard pressed for backseat space, considering how this car could be their second or even the third collection in their generously spaced garage.
You'll be able to slot yourself in without much fuss, even if you're as pint-sized as this storyteller, thanks to the highly adjustable steering wheel and electric seat that allow you to play around for comfort. You sit high enough to have a clear view of the road ahead. It's important for such a car, especially when more attention is needed to gauge through narrow areas or places where vast road works and construction have been piling up around our island of late.
You'll be able to slot yourself in without much fuss, even if you're as pint-sized as this storyteller, thanks to the highly adjustable steering wheel and electric seat that allow you to play around for comfort. You sit high enough to have a clear view of the road ahead. It's important for such a car, especially when more attention is needed to gauge through narrow areas or places where vast road works and construction have been piling up around our island of late.
The Drive
It's here, in real world driving, where the Audi TT really makes an impression. Regardless whether you're around town or on the highway, comfort is never compromised, even if the suspension leans towards a slightly stiffer end of the spectrum. There is a sense of quiet compliance in its ride that subtly reminds you that this isn't your out and out tarmac burning sports car. The suaveness of the 2.0-litre powerplant, when paired to the six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, is very much apparent.
Believe it or not, such things do matter because the engine acts as the heart of such a brilliantly engineered coupe. When perfectly concocted, it can make you inclined to use the car on a daily basis rather than just the weekend ride for the sake of casual attraction from roadside observers. Truth is, this beauty will be more than capable to handle it all - from the daily road rush (or rage) to the office to the weekend cruise to Sepang International Circuit, you are guaranteed the satisfaction of the meaty engine and the smoothness of the cog swops from the gearbox.
When the time comes for shove to take over push, there is a strong sense of the car's sporting intent. Credit has to go to the enchanting exhaust soundtrack, precise steering wheel and its capability to manoeuvre from corner to corner without having to take any one of your hands off it. Hence, guiding the car through a bend at a high speed before bleeding off the pedal as you stomp on the brakes and accelerating it towards the next lamp post is ridiculously easy and confidence-inspiring.
It's here, in real world driving, where the Audi TT really makes an impression. Regardless whether you're around town or on the highway, comfort is never compromised, even if the suspension leans towards a slightly stiffer end of the spectrum. There is a sense of quiet compliance in its ride that subtly reminds you that this isn't your out and out tarmac burning sports car. The suaveness of the 2.0-litre powerplant, when paired to the six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, is very much apparent.
Believe it or not, such things do matter because the engine acts as the heart of such a brilliantly engineered coupe. When perfectly concocted, it can make you inclined to use the car on a daily basis rather than just the weekend ride for the sake of casual attraction from roadside observers. Truth is, this beauty will be more than capable to handle it all - from the daily road rush (or rage) to the office to the weekend cruise to Sepang International Circuit, you are guaranteed the satisfaction of the meaty engine and the smoothness of the cog swops from the gearbox.
When the time comes for shove to take over push, there is a strong sense of the car's sporting intent. Credit has to go to the enchanting exhaust soundtrack, precise steering wheel and its capability to manoeuvre from corner to corner without having to take any one of your hands off it. Hence, guiding the car through a bend at a high speed before bleeding off the pedal as you stomp on the brakes and accelerating it towards the next lamp post is ridiculously easy and confidence-inspiring.
You can go as fast as the 5.3-second century sprint time suggests and pick up as much speed as the 227bhp and 370Nm of torque that reflect on the spec sheet. But the fact of the matter is when you start moving off with the car, all these becomes secondary. You could tweak it to the dynamic mode from the Driving Select button located on the dash and enjoy the exhaust pops and the ultra responsive right pedal but with a car this capable in a country this small, comfort will do just fine.
Conclusion
Know that pace or looks alone shouldn't be enough to make you fall head over heels for a car, bearing in mind that fast is never the only factor to boldly quip a car as a fun one and that looks are very much debatable. There should always be more to it.
You could see this car as the same girl we started describing at the beginning of this story. Her kisses and mentality start showing the richness yet vulnerabilities of what you can expect should you decide to make things happen. There are some weaknesses, like all of us, but it's the loving feeling you never thought you could feel again that you know has struck you silly, even if it means she can be warm and cosy today but cold and heartless the next.
Conclusion
Know that pace or looks alone shouldn't be enough to make you fall head over heels for a car, bearing in mind that fast is never the only factor to boldly quip a car as a fun one and that looks are very much debatable. There should always be more to it.
You could see this car as the same girl we started describing at the beginning of this story. Her kisses and mentality start showing the richness yet vulnerabilities of what you can expect should you decide to make things happen. There are some weaknesses, like all of us, but it's the loving feeling you never thought you could feel again that you know has struck you silly, even if it means she can be warm and cosy today but cold and heartless the next.
