Bartek Sikorski

Sheer top-down sportiness, powerful engines and a stirring driving experience are the hallmarks of the new Audi TT Roadster which has now arrived in Australia.
The open-top two-seater, available in two engine versions, has retained all the strengths of its successful predecessor and added even more emotion, performance and dynamism to creat a sports car built to appeal to all the senses.

Both the award-winning 2.0 TFSI and potent 3.2 V6 engine, with S tronic transmission, are available for Australian buyers, priced at $77,500 and $92,900 respectively.

Audi Australia expects to sell more than 150 units per annum, with 70 percent of sales going to the 2.0 TFSI variant and the remaining 30 percent favouring the 3.2 V6 engine with quattro.
Audi Australia’s managing director, Joerg Hofmann, says the new TT Roadster is expected to be popular in Australia, thanks to head-turning design and strong, sporty performance.

The design of the first TT Roadster was timelessness thanks to its classical purity and overly geometrical orientation, features that have been carefully honed for the new model.

Compared with the flat, flowing lines of the TT Coupé’s roofline, the hood of the TT Roadster contrasts with the tail end of the body, making the overall appearance much more geometrical – entirely in keeping with the style of its predecessor. This impression is underscored by the athletic and muscular curves of the vehicle's flanks and the rising dynamic line above the sill area, as well as the taut shoulder line.

As on the Coupé, the TT Roadster has an electrically powered spoiler that is extended when the speed reaches 120 km/h and which further increases downforce.

In classic Audi tradition, the new TT Roadster features a fully automatic electro-hydraulically powered soft top, opening or closing in just 12 seconds, even when driving. The soft top perfectly fits to the philosophy of purist open-top motoring, its low weight is a vital advantage that promotes sporty driving and thanks to the new Z-fold, the front section of the roof lies on top of the cloth like a cover, locking into place to lie flush with the body, dispensing with the need for a tonneau cover.

By virtue of the Audi Space Frame technology used for the body of the new TT Roadster, the overall weight has been reduced and when unladen, the 2.0 TFSI weighs just 1,295 kilograms. The body is made from 58% aluminium and 42% steel.

The static torsional rigidity surpasses its predecessor's already good figure by 120%. From the driver's point of view, this is felt via excellent vibrational comfort and precise handling.

The 2.0 TFSI engine delivers 147 kW and develops 280 Nm of torque – the latter all the way from 1,800 rpm to 5,000 rpm. The TFSI responds very directly to throttle movements and is mechanically refined and acoustically pleasing to the ear. An international jury of automotive specialists voted it the "Engine of the Year" in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Equipped with the S tronic gearbox, the Audi TT Roadster 2.0 TFSI accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.5 seconds and has a top speed of 237 km/h, consuming just 7.8 litres of fuel per 100 km on average.
The V6 engine musters 184 kW and a torque of 320 Nm between 2,500 and 3,000 rpm. Thanks to its extremely narrow included angle of 15 degrees, this engine is very compact. It sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds and is capable of achieving a governed top speed of 250 km/h, delivering powerfully sonorous acoustics. It returns an average fuel consumption of 9.5 litres per 100 km.

The sporty chassis has been fundamentally re-engineered for the new TT Roadster. Its chief features are the complex four-link rear suspension, wide track widths, reworked elastokinematics and large wheels. The 2.0 TFSI rides on 17-inch Y-spoke alloy wheels, and the 3.2 quattro on 18 inch alloy wheels.

The front suspension, with separate subframe, uses McPherson construction refined by lightweight aluminium components. The power steering, with its electro-mechanical assistance, has a direct ratio and operates with responsive precision.

The optional adaptive damping system, Audi Magnetic Ride, is a high-tech feature that assures the new TT Roadster an exceptional position within its segment. The driver determines at the push of a button whether the suspension response places the emphasis on comfort or dynamism.

Compared with the predecessor, the new TT Roadster has grown in length and width. The open-top two-seater measures 4,178 millimetres in length (+ 137 mm), and it is 1,842 mm wide (+ 78 mm) but only 1,358 mm high (+ 8 mm). The wheelbase has increased to 2,468 mm (+ 46 mm). With the hood up, the drag coefficient of the 2.0 TFSI is a mere 0.32 – proof indeed of the high functional quality of its design.

The larger overall body dimensions have also benefited the luggage compartment. It has grown to a generous capacity of 250 litres, on both the front-wheel-drive 2.0 TFSI model and the 3.2 quattro version.
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