Vehicle: 2008 Audi TT 2.0T Coupe S-Tronic with 18″ 7-spoke alloy wheels with self-supporting runflat tires, Audi Magentic Ride Suspension and Audio Package
Price as tested: CDN$57600

Handling: A stiff chassis is the fundamental ingredient when building a great driver’s car. TT’s newfound chassis is no exception. The chassis is rock-solid for suspension to hang its head. The dynamic is simply excellent consider this is a front-driver among the sea of rear-drivers in sports car arena. Its a very balanced front-driver, which means understeer is hard to detect until you pushed it close to the limit and body rolls are non-existent. The level of nimbleness and responsiveness are very significantly improved especially after new TT lost 300 pounds. Thanks to Audi’s advanced Magentic Ride Suspension, it dials out 99.9% of body rolls while providing a comfortable ride even with run-flat tires. Steering is sharp and precise, with the usual responsiveness one expected from Audi. There are plenty of road feel without being twitchy on the highway. Unlike its predecessor, the new TT is a very capable handler on twisty bits as well as handling tight corners. All this without losing the daily drivability which TT has been known for in years. While many have been lament for the lack of Quattro in 2.0T, we think its FrontTrak version is good enough and Haldex Quattro will be an added bonus when it becomes available. From a driver’s perspective, however, 2.0T is a better driving car than 3.2 Quattro simply because it front is lighter.

Performance: There are 2 engines available in the new TT. The tried-and-true 3.2L DOHC V6 24-valver from its predecessor. Or the 2.0T FSI DOHC 20-valver engine which shares with the likes of A3 and A4. However, the tuning is completely different than its more sedate silibings. Even though it remains at 200 horses and 207 lb/ft of torque, this 2.0T continuous to be a willing partner with TT’s docile chassis. Throttle response is instant and linear. The new S-Tronic, which is an upgraded version of the wonderful DSG sequential gearbox, continues to be as sweet as it is. A major factor that this little turbo 4 is able to go from 0 to 100 km/h in an amazing 5.5 seconds is weight reduction. This iteration of TT is 300lb lighter than its predecessor. The engine note has a rumble and solid sound which is very Teutonic. Pushed through the redline and this little turbocharged motor is as willing to rev as any high-performance normally aspirated competitors out there.

Brakes: With 4-wheel discs and standard ABS, TT’s braking prowess is as good as its dynamic qualities. The ABS doesn’t kick-in unnecessarily. Pedal feel is solid and easy to modulate. It doesn’t feel spongy after a couple of hard stops.

Interior: With a great set of instrumentation gauges, ideal ergonomics and top-notch materials, TT has the best-in-class interior ambience. Our tester’s Alcantara/leather Recaro sports seats are simply a joy to sit in. Those Recaro seats provide plenty of thigh and shoulder supports when pushing the vehicle hard. The auto climate control works flawlessly during our 28 degrees summer weather. Except for the lack of aluminum TT stereo cover, the rest of the interior styling remains true to original TT’s Bauhaus school of design language.

You can forget about its backseat except you are midget.

The liftover for the hatch is low enough for 2 persons on a weekend trip. With the rear seats fold-down, which you should, it creates more useful space for light carries.

Conclusion: Dynamically speaking, the new TT is a huge step forward over its predecessor. Its anything what a bona-fida sports car should be, with style and quality to boot. And this is only a 200hp 2.0T FWD version, we can only wish on how awesome the upcoming S and RS-TTs would drive.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2008 AUDI TT COUPE
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Performance: 4.5/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 5/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 5/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 5/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 3/5
Value-for-money: 5/5

Overall rating: 4.75/5