The 2011 Audi TT appears alike, steers alike and sticks just like the 2010. There’s an important discrepancy though: torque. Audi has come up with a way to entice an additional 51 pound-feet of twist from its always-developing 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder engine. The typical TT isn’t just the Bauhaus design symbol that pushed Audi into luxury car fame in recent years; it’s at last a suitable sports car.
Even the toughest Audi enthusiast would have a tough time finding the diversities of the 2011 model and its forerunner, so here’s an abbreviated account.
Both the Audi TT Coupe and Roadster exhibit a fresh front bumper with high-gloss black grille accents, bigger air intakes and chrome bezels surrounding the fog lamps. The most understandable visual embellishments are the bigger twin exhausts, the 12 LEDs lining the underside of the optional Xenon headlights and the innovative front splitter and rear diffuser. Both come standard in matte black, but the optional carbon fiber pieces are racy, sophisticated touches that are worth the money. Include the carbon fiber mirrors in the package and you can tell your friends they’re the same units built into Audi’s immaculate R8. They’re also incredible on the new Oolong Gray exterior, one of four pristine external colors offered for the 2011 model year.
The interior revisions aren’t nearly as dramatic, and comprise a bit of sleek shiny accents and internal trim, along with fresh brushed aluminum pieces on the flat-bottom steering wheel, center console and door liner. It’s all restrained, subtle and comes in three innovative interior colors: Titanium Grey, Garnet Red and Nougat Brown. But, more important than all is the engine that’s unmistakably top-of-the-line.
Combined with a modified intake manifold and a new turbo, the Audi Valvelift System methodically controls and physically activates the exhaust valves on the iron block four-cylinder to deliver 211 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque starting at a meticulously practical 1,600 rpm. Outfitted with Quattro all-wheel drive and the six-speed S-tronic dual-clutch gearbox, the readjusted Audi TT proves its claim of 0-60 mph sprint of 5.6 seconds and top speed of just over 150 mph isn’t all “torque.”