The last TT

It’s hard to believe that it was 25 years ago (26 to be accurate) that the Audi TT became a production reality and effectively changed the way the brand was viewed in terms of its vehicle design.

Now, all those years later the TT has come to the end of its production life with no firm plans to replace the iconic sportscar in the future. But the TT is being sent off with a special edition model – aptly named the TT Final Edition – that celebrates all of the things that made the original such a success and with the addition in 25 years worth of evolution, performance and technology.

Where the Audi quattro cars of the 1980s cemented the brand’s reputation in terms of engineering and technological know-how, the TT made a statement that did much the same in terms of design.

With the exception of some truly stunning concept cars over the years – think Avus quattro as a prime example – the Audi TT represented a radical departure in terms of the brand’s design ethos. It was a winner in concept form when it debuted in 1995, but it was the fact that that winning design concept carried through into series production in 1998 that really set the TT apart.

In Australia, the front-wheel drive version was the first to arrive, but it was the TT quattro with its 1.8-turbo engine and six-speed manual transmission that really captured all of the attention. The all-paw model was presented to the press in York, Western Australia, with the bulk of the drive program uncharacteristically held on gravel roads. In this environment, the little sportscar seemed right at home, although ballbearing gravel out in Western Australia’s countryside was about as far from its intended hunting ground as it was possible to get.

Over the intervening two and a half decades, the TT has gone through two major redesigns and numerous model variations, been campaigned in the DTM and featured in its own one-model race series in Europe. It has been available as both a Coupe and Roadster, in both S and RS configuration and is still a distinctive model that while contemporary, remains true to its design origins.

The aptly named TT Final Edition which sees off the iconic sportscar, is the modern distillation of all the things that made the TT such a success, but with the benefit of 25 years worth of technological advancement and the evolution of that distinctive design. 

Based on the Audi TT 45 TFSI, it is priced at $88,479* and adds $14,000 worth of styling and equipment highlights for $5,900 setting the Final Edition apart from the pack.

Most obvious are the big gloss black 19-inch Audi Sport alloy wheels in a five-arm polygon design  (customers can opt for larger 20-inch wheels in a 12-spoke pattern) and the rear-deck spoiler, also colour matched in black. There are the Audi four-rings decal just forward of the rear wheel arches, black wing mirror caps and the Audi four-ringed logo front and rear in black that add to the overall sporty look, along with the huge front air intakes and dual exhaust tips protruding from the blacked out rear apron.

LED headlights are standard technology and customers can choose from four colours – Turbo blue, Glacier white metallic, Chronos grey metallic and Tango red metallic. 

The interior is all-business and driver focused as befits a true sportscar. Like the original it has the feel of a cockpit, with controls kept to a minimum to both make the most of space and maintain the car’s clean, uncluttered feel. The circular air vents – also reminiscent of the original car’s – have been given a contemporary update and the inclusion of the MMI controls and of course the Audi virtual cockpit are modern advancements that bring the convenience of the latest technology – think wireless charging, eight-speaker sound system and DAB+ digital radio – into the compact interior. 

Seats are form-hugging S sport items finished in fine Nappa leather and electrically operated (lumbar and side bolsters). They feature contrasting stitching and S embossing and the flat-bottom, multi-function steering wheel features a marker at 12 o’clock – for an overall effect that is not as stripped down and minimalist as the original, but is clean, elegant and supremely functional.

The back seats are only really of use for passengers over short journeys, or short passengers, although the additional storage space comes in handy. At the end of the day, the TT has always been a driver’s car and that’s what you get with the TT Final Edition. 

Its 2.0-litre TFSI engine which is mated to a seven-speed S tronic transmission, produces 180kW of power and 370Nm of torque between 1600 and 4300rpm. That equates to a 5.1 second sprint from 0 to 100km/h with a governed top speed of 250km/h, which gives the TT Final Edition genuine performance credentials. The engine note in the cabin under hard acceleration is rewarding though not excessive, and the suspension – MacPherson strut front and four-link rear axle – while firm, makes for a comfortable daily driver when you’re faced with city traffic. But the TT  Final Edition really shines when you get away from the madding crowd and find a twisting country road. Here the power down through all four wheels, electromechanical progressive steering with speed-dependant power assistance makes for a car that’s built to drive and enjoy as opposed to just a means of getting from point A to point B.

It’s a car that’s both rewarding and fun to drive, with a surefooted feel through the bends, dependable braking feel and the sort of performance that puts a smile on your face.

Out on the freeway it’ll gallop along all day and gobble up long distances without protest, but it’s the sort of car that begs you to take the route less travelled and actually enjoy the drive. Like its predecessors, it’s a car for those who believe the journey is as important as the destination, but it’s also a car that takes the daily grind in stride as well  – because not every day lends itself to a blast in the country. More’s the pity.

The TT Final Edition marks the end of an automotive era, but it does so with a car that celebrates the best of its iconic forebear, while building on the legacy with the benefit of 25 years of technological development and refinement.

(*Manufacturer List Pricing [MLP] – excludes dealer delivery and government statutory charges)