A tribute to TT

If you’re one of the many Australians enjoying a European escape at the moment or are planning to in the next two months, there’s another outstanding reason to visit Audi HQ in Ingolstadt. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the iconic Audi TT this year, the Audi museum mobile in Ingolstadt has just opened an exhibition of all things TT, including many of the car’s namesakes and of course, the original concept study from 1995 which literally caused an automotive sensation.

It’s a model that marked a significant shift for Audi in terms of the brand’s design and very much changed the way it was perceived. The TT was something very different when it was first showcased as a design concept at the 1995 Frankfurt International Motor Show. The overwhelming reaction was positive from critics and the public alike, but at the time it was seen as little more than a ‘show car’ and not something that would ever find its way into series production.

But three years later that design with very little changes did indeed go into series production and now, 25 years later it is still immediately recognised, regardless of which of the three generations happens to be present.

The State of the ArTT’ exhibition which runs through until the end of September, features not only the original design study and examples of all three generations of Audi TT, but numerous ‘special editions’ that have been produced over the past two and a half decades. These include vehicles like the 2005 Audi TT quattro sport, the 2009 Audi TTS Pikes Peak ‘Shelly’, the 2013 Audi TT ultra quattro concept and the winner of the 2017 Audi TT Cup.

The exhibition also showcases vehicles which trace the brand’s association with the famed Tourist Trophy race on the Isle of Man – the TT – that gave the iconic car its name. One of the oldest and most spectacular motorsports events in the world, it was one where NSU and DKW achieved great success with their motorcycles.

One NSU model, the 1954 NSU Rennfox, won the TT Ulster in Northern Ireland and its name was ultimately used on two later NSU models – the Quickly TT motorcycle and the NSU Prinz TT which achieved its own successes in motorsport. 

The special Audi TT exhibition will run through until September 24th at the Audi museum mobile in Ingolstadt.