Top 10 Performance AUDIs: 6) Series 1 TT quattro Sport (2005-2006)

Series 1 TT quattro Sport (2005-2006)

The SERIES 1 TT was a game-changer for Audi, making full use of the platform engineering strategy at the time to produce a cost-effective 2+2-seater sports car. with a choice of turbocharged 1.8-litre 20-valve and naturally aspirated 3.2-litre VR6 engines, in combination with haldex coupling four-wheel drive, the TT offered high performance and excellent driving dynamics with everyday useability, along with distinctive styling. As is often the case towards the end of a particular generation, along came what many consider to be the best of the bunch, certainly as far as driving dynamics is concerned, with the introduction of the TT quattro Sport. Readily distinguished by its black-painted roof, whatever body colour was chosen, and enlarged rear spoiler, the TT quattro Sport also featured essentially the same body kit that had been used on the TT 3.2. Inside, the rear seat was replaced by a simple luggage shelf, with a fixed retaining net secured to a horizontal tubular brace bar between the rear suspension towers. A no-compromise two-seater, with Recaro bucket seats and an Alcantara trimmed steering wheel, the TT quattro Sport clearly alluded to the trackday image, and it had the performance to match. The power output of the 225 PS 1.8T engine was raised to 240 PS, largely by changes to the engine management mapping, with the torque increased from 280 to 320 Nm, both achieved at higher engine speeds. Slightly lighter than the standard TT, by about 50 kg, its performance was substantially improved, with a 0-60 time of 6.0 seconds and a top speed (electronically limited) of 155 mph. On our road test we achieved 26 mpg overall and 32 mpg on a cruising run. One special feature of the TT quattro Sport is not always so obvious; although it has the same size tyres (235/40-18) all round, the multi-spoke Ronal wheels are slightly wider at the rear, at 8.5 inches wide compared with 8 inches at the front, providing a subtle difference in the handling balance presumably considered significant by the chassis engineers at Audi. Not everyone realises this, though, and we’ve heard of some cars where the wheels and tyres have been inadvertently swapped front to rear and even diagonally! Headlamps were the xenon discharge units and the standard sound system was the Chorus 2 radio/cassette unit, although the options list included the Concert 2 radio/CD, Bose speakers and navigation system. It is understood that only 800 right-hand drive examples were allocated for the UK, with Avus silver, Misano red, Mauritius blue and Phantom black the only standard body colours, although an optional extra colour could be chosen from the exclusive colour programme. It all added up to a very special Series 1 TT and we concluded our final road test in February 2006 by saying that it was ‘likely to become the classic TT of all time…’