2005 Audi TT Test Drive

Forever Young?

The Audi TT needs a makeover but manages to stay fresh with new engine options and a slick paddle-shift manual transmission.

With its rounded body and handsome, aluminum-trimmed interior, Audi's TT remains fresh even without a major redesign since its 2000 debut. The high beltline and symmetrical curves make it look something like a modern-day Volkswagen Karmann Ghia from the 1960s.

Sport coupes tend to fade in popularity early in their life cycles, so it's no wonder that after five years of production, sales of Audi's TT have slipped. (Sales are down 46% in the first quarter of 2005, compared with the same period last year, according to CNW Market Research.)

The company is doing its best to boost buyer interest before the car is completely redesigned in a year or two. Sure to please enthusiasts, a new top-of-the-line model featuring a more powerful engine and high-tech, paddle-shift manual transmission was added last year.

The TT was introduced as a four-seater coupe in 2000, and a ragtop roadster version (now starting at $35,500) was added to the line a year after the car's debut. It sacrifices the coupe's petite backseat for the folding canvas top.

Riding on a 95.4-inch wheelbase, the TT shares platforms with the Volkswagen Golf, Jetta and New Beetle. It's nimble and balanced, with crisp handling, but lacks the athleticism of a Honda S2000 or BMW Z4, both of which have better weight distribution, thanks to their rear-wheel drive layout. The TT features a four-wheel independent suspension with 17-inch wheels and tires, four-wheel disc antilock brakes and variable-assist power steering that transmits good road feel through the car's thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel, which tilts and telescopes.

Three available engines, each mated to a different transmission, offer a range of performance possibilities, from quick to downright fast. Base models have a 1.8-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine that produces 180 horsepower (this engine is shared with the Audi A4 and some Volkswagens). It's paired with a six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission that can be shifted manually using the center-mounted shift lever. An electronic stability program enhances handling in extreme situations.

An intermediate model features a higher output version of the 1.8-liter engine — producing 225 hp — and adds a more sophisticated rear multilink suspension along with a sporty six-speed manual transmission. This version also includes Audi's renowned quattro all-wheel-drive system, which improves traction on slippery road surfaces and cornering capabilities on dry pavement. Be aware that quattro models have slightly smaller trunks to accommodate the added all-wheel-drive hardware.

A new top-of-the-line version  was added in 2004 and packs a 3.2-liter, turbocharged V-6 engine. This power plant generates 250 hp and also comes with quattro all-wheel drive. It's mated to a six-speed  "Direct Shift Gearbox" transmission that affords manual shifting via steering-wheel-mounted paddles rather than a traditional clutch pedal and shift stick. Unlike automatic transmissions with manual shifting capability, like the Tiptronic on the base model, the Direct Shift Gearbox is a true manual transmission, employing two clutches to maintain a continuous flow of thrust throughout the engine's power range. By making the clutches work in tandem, Audi was able to circumvent the balky behavior plaguing other sequential manual transmissions.

Standard equipment on all three models is plentiful, with the usual suspects represented. A handful of available options include such luxuries as a premium Bose Audio system ($1,200), satellite navigation system ($1,350) and 18-inch wheels and tires ($800).

Changes for 2005 are minimal, and while few updates are expected initially for 2006, the car will likely be recast during 2006, probably as an all-new 2007 model. The revamped version is said to be larger and more powerful and will have more refined styling.