The Audi TT borrowed a motorcycle race name and a Bauhaus shape
Audi's rounded little sports car took its initials from the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, a motorcycle race where its predecessor NSU first competed in 1907. Sketched in California and shown as a concept in 1995, the TT stayed in production for 25 years, and 662,762 were built before the last left the line in November 2023.
Styling began in spring 1994 at the Volkswagen group's design studio in California, with J Mays and Freeman Thomas credited for the shape. Audi's later design chief Marc Lichte said its simple curves drew on the Bauhaus, an unusual look then. A laser welding process that allowed seamless body details actually delayed launch, and the coupé finally went on sale in September 1998, joined by a roadster in August 1999. Underneath sat a transverse engine shared with the Golf and A3, driving the front or all four wheels.
Early cars had a troubling flaw: a series of fatal crashes at speeds above 180 kilometres per hour, or during sudden lane changes, were linked to instability at speed. Audi recalled coupés and roadsters around the turn of 2000, adding stability control, a rear spoiler and suspension changes. The fix worked well enough for Car and Driver to list the TT among its ten best cars in 2000 and 2001.
Engines started with a 1.8-litre turbo four rated at 180 or 225 PS, the stronger version using a larger turbocharger and extra intercooler. A 3.2-litre VR6 with 250 PS followed in 2003, and that July a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox arrived, making British TTs the first right-hand-drive cars sold with such a transmission. A lightened quattro Sport edition of 1,165 cars shed 75 kilograms by deleting the rear seats and air conditioning.
The second generation, revealed on 6 April 2006, mixed aluminium front panels with steel at the back to balance its weight, offered magnetic dampers that adjust to road conditions, and gained a spoiler that rises automatically at 125 kilometres per hour. Hungarian workers built most TTs, the third generation entirely in their factory.
Source: Audi TT
