Audi has facelifted the TT for the 2011 model year with both the hardtop and roadster versions sporting revised exteriors and interiors. Being typical Audi, the facelift follows Audi's trend for little nips and tucks here and there and nothing fancy. The 2011 models sport a front with bigger air inlets, a shinier glossy black grill and those Audi LED daytime driving lights which were first seen on the TTS version. All TT variants have this feature now. At the rear, we have a rear diffuser with different exhaust outlet/s and almost unnoticeable tail light touchups. Some new colours are also available, Scuba Blue, Oolong Gray, Volcano Red and Dakota Gray. The interior has received a nip and tuck as well, with three new cabin colors, leather that's been specially treated to resist solar heat, and new aluminum bits of trim here and there.
And now we get to the more interesting part, for me that is as I don't actually give two hoots about small little facelifts unless there's a technical change. A new 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder engine sits under the bonnet and it now comes with 211 bhp instead of the 200 bhp that the old one had. While it has more power it has lots more torque, 350Nm compared to 280Nm. Audi's Valvelift system (Audi's version of variable valve timing and lift control) helps the engine achieve this sort of torque figures. Audi says that the 2.0TFSI TT Quattro will reach 100km/h from standstill in 5.6 seconds. This engine will effectively replace both the earlier 200bhp version as well as the 3.2 liter FSI version too. The levels of torque make the old 3.2 v6 somewhat redundant and this is the reason Audi is dropping this model.
The rest of the TT range are a 1.8 TFSI version with 160 bhp/250 Nm and a 2.0 TDI version with 170 bhp/350 Nm. The diesel is pretty economical with a combined consumption of 18.9 km/l. Available as an option on all variants is Audi’s magnetic ride shock absorber system together with a Sport button that allows the driver to control servo boost for the steering response and the engine sound in two stages.
Having driven the earlier 200bhp/280Nm version of the TT that came with the DSG transmission but without the magnetic ride shocks I have to say that firstly, if you buy a TT you have to spec the shocks as the car will feel more planted (if its not specced by the dealer or especially by the grey importers that is). Without these shocks the car feels a little floaty at speeds in excess of 160km/h. Not very confidence giving especially since its a coupe. But the rest of the car is great, especially gearchanges at the redline where the DSG gives out a loud 'pop' at every full bore upshift. While the horsepower upgrade is slight, I am really looking forward to have a go with a TT having 350Nm. In the old one things felt very linear and the 0-100km/h at 6.4seconds felt only slightly rapid (I think this was due to the refinement of the TT – so it was quite misleading). I think it will now be like, how shall we say, a TT or a Golf GTI with a stage 1 remap of the ECU by aftermarket tuners at the very least.
The only problem would be if you bought a front wheel drive version instead of the Quattro. Having driven an A4 1.8TFSI pretty fast in the wet the traction control icon flashes like crazy so imagine a front wheel drive TT with 350Nm. Tread lightly if you want to get to anywhere instead of just spinning those front wheels silly. Aside from this fact, the Audi TT 2.0TFSI will be an even more rapid coupe from now on.
Audi, Audi TT, 2011 Audi and 1 more...
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