One of the brightest stars in the Audi firmament in design terms, the first-generation TT Coupé caused a sensation at its 1998 launch, not least because the stunning geometric lines of the original 1995 concept penned in California by Freeman Thomas and Romulus Rost had made the transition to series production with so little alteration. Few mainstream cars have had such a powerful influence on automotive aesthetics, and that influence was more than skin deep, because the interior with its beautiful machined aluminium detailing was also a masterpiece.
Power for the TT was initially provided by turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engines with outputs of 180PS and 225PS, which were paired with five-speed and six-speed manual gearboxes respectively and modulated by a multi-plate clutch-based quattro system.
The quattro drivetrain made levels of grip and control at speed that were previously reserved for exotic sports cars accessible to a wider audience, prompting the world’s media to voice concerns about high-speed stability. In late 1999 Audi set about allaying these concerns by retrofitting modified shock absorbers, anti-roll bars and an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and offering the option to have a tailgate spoiler added, all at no cost to customers (in the UK). As fitment of the spoiler wasn’t a legal requirement, our car is one of a small number that retain the original look of the launch car. All the revisions subsequently became part of the standard series production specification.
Technical information
- Cylinders – four in-line
- Displacement – 1781cc
- Power – 225PS @ 5900rpm
- Torque – 280Nm @ 2200 – 5500rpm
- Max speed 150mph
- 0-62mph in 6.6 secs
- Transmission – six-speed manual
- quattro all-wheel-drive
- Weight – 1465kg
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