AUDI TT

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Audi TT 2.0 TDI quattro

photos - Mike McCarthy

Audi's diesel sportscar suggests opposites can attract

Road Test

Audi TT 2.0 TDI

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges): $70,900
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Magnetic ride $3178, sat-nav $4449, rear parking sensors $900
Crash rating: not tested
Fuel: Diesel
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 5.3
CO2 emissions (g/km): 139
Also consider: Audi TT 2.0 TFSI

Overall rating: 3.5/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 4.0/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 4.0/5.0
Safety: 3.5/5.0
Behind the wheel: 4.0/5.0
X-factor: 4.0/5.0

About our ratings

Not so long ago, suggestions of a diesel sportscar would have raised dismissive chortles. Well, nobody's laughing now.

Of course, earlier belittlings were far from legless. Diesels always had lusty torque and fuel-stretching consumption, but extra weight, intrusive clatter, breathlessly short rev range and sooty exhaust soured their appeal for cars. However, oilers got a huge free kick when many European governments increased petrol tax to extents where diesels' everyday running costs became too (comparatively) attractive to ignore. Sensing a massive sales surge, carmakers accelerated diesel engine improvements.

Design advances came thick and fast, bringing more responsive performance, still thriftier fuel economy, better refinement, noticeably less noise and competitively clean exhaust emissions. To help prove the point, specially developed diesels compete at the highest level of sports-racing endurance events. And fare very well, thank you. For example, diesels have blitzed the iconic Le Mans 24 Hour derby for the past four years straight, with Audi's stamp on three of them.

Viewed in that light, there was a degree of inevitability behind the Audi TT TDI. It's no secret, or surprise, that the TT's punchy 2.0 TDI engine is also found in versions of the Audi Q5 softroader and the A3 Sportback plus larger Ingolstadt offerings. With 125kW maximum power at 4200rpm, and 350Nm peak torque from 1750-2500rpm, the 1968cc turbodiesel is as versatile as it is forceful.

Given a big banzai from standing start, the TT 2.0 TDI coupe nails 100km/h urgently and suggests Audi's 7.5 seconds claim could even be a tenth or two conservative. There's no reason to doubt the coupe's claimed 226km/h top speed, either. Nor to think the specified 5.3L/100km ‘combined' fuel figure is far-fetched.

During our week's worth, the diesel TT's consumption frequently registered sub-sixes on the trip computer, and ultimately we weren't disappointed that our enthusiastically stirred mix of urban and highway driving netted 6.5L/100km overall.

While the diesel coupe's fuel economy shines in city and suburban driving, it's also rewarding when cruising at 110 clicks in sixth gear, with the engine barely cresting 2000rpm.

Unlike its 2.0 TDI Q5 and A3 siblings which have dual-clutch S-tronic transmission as standard, the TT is exclusively manual. Moreover, the u-shift-it gearbox is palpably influential in defining the TT 2.0 TDI as a sports coupe. Besides which, it's further proof that manual-diesel drivetrains are mixed blessings.

To its credit, the six-speed is a bit lighter and cheaper than the S tronic would be, and it gives keen drivers the satisfaction of commanding slickly precise gear-changing. The slot-swapping throws are short and easy-as; all the more impressive considering the engine's towering torque and the all-wheel-drive powertrain's inertia. But even with invitingly easy useability and athletic sportiness going for it, the manual drivetrain isn't always or necessarily a charmer in repetitive stop-n-go driving conditions.

During hurried footwork, large soles may find the TT's clutch pedal pad a bit low for optimal contact. Such slight awkwardness can ruffle the pedalling process sufficiently to elicit noticeable driveline shunting.

Although that situation doesn't affect the TT TDI in normal suburban and country driving, you're never far from being reminded that gearchanging is a perpetual rite of passage for manual diesels (all of ‘em). That's so because, for all the torque, a diesel's performance spans a relatively short rev range and needs fairly tall gear ratios (the more of them the better) to make the best of its potential urgency and economy.

The 2.0 TDI, for example, comes on massively strong from just 1750rpm and is enthusingly vigorous throughout its deep-breathing zone. But just beyond 4000rpm the delivery nose-dives, calling for another up-shift if play's to continue. That's situation-normal for manual diesels. And there's not a lot of excitement on tap below the optimum rev range, either.

Let the TT TDI trickle down from 1749rpm and the rolling response becomes comparatively, um, gutless. Happily, it only takes a quick down-shift to leave any languor behind.

So, in the manual-diesel sportscar context, keeping the 'sports' spirit bubbling merrily insists that you always keep the pot well stirred; with the gear lever of course. Consequently, the manual diesel entails a degree of driving technique that is less necessary with petrol engines, and less again with automated transmissions. However, such man-machine relationships are central to sportscars' raison d'être. As the TT TDI indeed goes to show.

As a driver's car, the diesel TT right on the pace in its driving dynamics too. Supported by the surety of the quattro system's tractive grip-fest, the coupe's prodigiously capable cornering is flattered by handling that brims with confidence and great balance.

While the steering may ultimately lack a touchy-feely sense of connection to the road, the well-weighted tiller is faithfully accurate and nicely direct for bend-swinging.

Changing direction with forceful intent, the TT hunkers down and feels adhesively well planted on the road. Though some understeer is endemic, it doesn't blunt the nose's inclination to go where it's pointed. Throughout hard cornering, the TT's attitude remains essentially and encouragingly benign.

The brakes are mighty; hugely arresting when shedding high speeds, yet finely modulated for light low-speed slowings when lack of Audi's sometime over-assistance is appreciated.

The ride quality is brilliant. Well, on (very) smooth roads anyway. On others the bump absorbency is tolerably adequate, tinged with stiffness. Rough surfaces can inflict discomfort however, when the busy ride becomes sharply vertical. And that's with the (optional) magnetic-ride control at its least punitive setting.

For the rest, the coupe is all its usual TT self. That means a visually striking, beautifully built, engagingly presented liftback with 2+2 seating and a cabin that's as inviting as it is purposeful.

In reality, the manual drivetrain means the TT 2.0 TDI coupe isn't a good bet for lazy and/or limp-wristed automatons. It's a car that demands to be driven, not merely operated.

For sports drivers, though, the TT 2.0 TDI is proof positive that the diesel sportscar is, in its own different way, a very good thing.

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Published : Tuesday, 2 March 2010

AUDI TT

Audi TT 2.0 TDI quattro

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