I am a huge sucker for two things in life - soul-stirring ocean drives and iconic roadsters. So when Robert Downey Jr. piloted an Audi R8 Spyder along the scenic roads of Malibu, California, in Iron Man 2, I thought to myself - that is exactly the sort of experience I'd love to have.
Unfortunately, you won't be reading about me achieving that dream just yet, as what I'm about to tell you happens in metropolitan Singapore and also because I can't afford an R8.
What's fortunate is the fact that I got a step closer to that dream when I spent a couple of days with the new Audi TT Roadster, albeit on the less scenic stretches of East Coast Parkway (ECP) - but that will do for now.
Now in its third generation, the Roadster's formula has been ingeniously refined. And, it isn't just an ocular delight on wheels. This is a supermodel that's got some substance.Up close and Personal
While still retaining much of its original, crowd-pleasing design, the Roadster's sheet metal is now slightly more sculptured and angular. With the four rings relocated on the hood like the R8, the face of the car becomes even more dominant and aggressive than before, too.
Unlike other cars that have been upsized over time, the Roadster is, thankfully, still compact - an endearing trait on busy streets like ours.
On the inside, fancy, disc-shaped vents, flowing surfaces and exceptional material quality all combine to create one of the coolest interiors we have seen to date.
Then, there is Vorsprung durch Technik at play. Audi took the initiative of replacing the Multi Media Interface (MMI) central screen with a new 12.3-inch concept - a fancy touch of technology that the Ingolstadtians call, 'Virtual Cockpit'. Navigation, entertainment and connectivity information is now displayed right on the instrument cluster, within the driver's field of vision.
When the weather tempts you to go topless, an electric drive opens and closes the 39kg, electrically actuated fabric roof in 10 seconds, even when driving at speeds of up to 50km/h.
Besides the speed and smoothness of a mechanism that is second to none, the Roadster also forgoes the Coupe's tiny rear seats and uses that little space to stow away its folded top.
Plus, you can still make hands-free phone calls without sounding like you're caught in the middle of a thunderstorm, thanks to microphones built into the seat belt. It's an attention to detail that Audi is proud of, and Roadster owners would be happy to have.
The Drive
When push comes to shove, the Roadster will have your back with 230bhp and 370Nm from its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.
This hearty gem of a motor puts power to all four wheels via Audi's quattro permanent all-wheel drive system and the Roadster delivers an explosive straight-line sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds once the lights turn green.
Spoused to the engine is a six-speed dual-clutch automatic that supplies the Roadster with rapid and seamless shifts, and the powertrain is tuned to aggressively 'fart' during full throttle cogs. With a lighter foot, the Roadster's soundtrack is urbane and less intrusive to neighbouring cars.
As most of us know, power is nothing without control. And, usually, control seems to run out before power but that's not a worry in the Roadster.
Hours of ingenious engineering have been put in to ensure that the Roadster will handle as well as its Coupe sibling and we have identified them for easier understanding - sporty and stable chassis, progressive steering, sophisticated suspension and taut tuning.
When push comes to shove, the Roadster will have your back with 230bhp and 370Nm from its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.
This hearty gem of a motor puts power to all four wheels via Audi's quattro permanent all-wheel drive system and the Roadster delivers an explosive straight-line sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds once the lights turn green.
Spoused to the engine is a six-speed dual-clutch automatic that supplies the Roadster with rapid and seamless shifts, and the powertrain is tuned to aggressively 'fart' during full throttle cogs. With a lighter foot, the Roadster's soundtrack is urbane and less intrusive to neighbouring cars.
As most of us know, power is nothing without control. And, usually, control seems to run out before power but that's not a worry in the Roadster.
Hours of ingenious engineering have been put in to ensure that the Roadster will handle as well as its Coupe sibling and we have identified them for easier understanding - sporty and stable chassis, progressive steering, sophisticated suspension and taut tuning.
For the benefit of those who are interested in technical jargon, the steering rack of the standard progressive steering is designed so that the steering ratio becomes increasingly direct when turning. There's also a comforting firmness to the suspension - while it prevents excessive lean around hairpins, it doesn't crash over imperfections.
That said, when the skies get dark and the roof has to go up (as they often do lately), wind and road noise is more apparent at higher speeds than with the Coupe.
Conclusion
Haters who can't look past the Roadster's humbler beginnings will continue to protest the authenticity as a true driver's car. If you do fall into that category, we suggest having a go in this one.
Here and now, the Roadster has the bite to back its bark. It's a car that is happy to be driven hard and certainly won't let you down when you do.
For me, the best gift this Lunar New Year didn't come in the form of fat, cash-stuffed red packets. Instead, it was a three-day adventure with the Audi TT Roadster. Moments like these in life are the sort that money can't buy, unless of course, you've got $265,700 (as of 7th January 2016) to shell.
