2020 Audi TTS review - Toybox

By: Mark Higgins, Photography by: Audi

Date: 13.08.2020

Audi knows a thing or two about sports cars winessed by a cabinet full of Le Mans trophies

Audi TTS

It’s hard to believe Audi’s TT burst onto the market at the end of the last century and when the covers did come off, it caused quite a stir as there was nothing else like it at the time.

To celebrate the TT’s 21st birthday Unique Cars has snaffled the keys to the latest version, the Audi TTS coupe 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic, to see if it still lives up to the hype.

Audi knows a thing or two about sports cars with a cabinet full of LeMans trophies that define its pedigree and its big brother, the R8 is a stonking bit of kit.

Providing the grunt to fling the TTS to 100 kilometres an hour in 4.7 seconds is a 2-litre turbo four with a 210 kilowatt and 380 newton metre wallop.

It’s bolted to a six-speed dual-clutch two-mode auto with paddle shifts and drives, as the quattro badge signifies, to all four wheels.

As you’d expect with the top dog of the range it’s fully loaded with performance and the latest in entertainment, safety and driver assist technology.

But it will set you back $99,990 plus on roads.

TT is 21 years old. How time flies

When you nail the throttle the TTS hits 100km/h in 4.7 seconds and the top speed is electronically limited to a speed that will have it impounded and you walking for quite some time. A sweet exhaust growl accompanies the forward trajectory and the auto races through the gears quicker than a blink of an eye with a bit of audible theatre of pops and farts thrown in at each up and downshift.

On a twisting hilly road the TTS is a ball of fun with plenty of oomph on tap, loads of grip from the wide boots and quattro system, plus the big meaty brakes, go-kart like steering and a firm ride. 

Fiesty 2.0lt turbo four

Under the TTS is Audi’s adaptive dampers so you can decide how sharp or sharper you want the power delivery, ride stiffness, gearshifts and steering. There are no prizes for guessing I had it slotted in Dynamic mode most of the time.

While its feisty, engaging and driver focused the Audi TTS has a refined edge giving it a broader appeal and making it an easy to live with daily driver.

The cockpit and dash are driver centric and the one screen houses the brilliant virtual cockpit instrumentation plus the infotainment, audio and Bluetooth controls.

Leather, tech and carbon fibre filled cabin

And the air air vents double as the controls for the HVAC. Very cool. 

The chunky flat-bottom steering wheel with paddle shifts is the perfect size and the soft nappa leather sports seats with their beautiful diamond quilting hold you firmly in place with plenty of upper and lower body support.

Carbon fibre garnish is sprinkled through the cabin adding to its sporty persona.

To keep your enthusiasm in check and make light work of the daily grind in traffic, the TTS has traction control, lane and side assist, a reversing camera and self-parking.   After a week the compact TTS very much lives up to the hype.

Its full of beans, captivating behind the wheel, ticking the fun factor box big time and the interior is chock full of luxury, tech and refinement.

2020 Audi TTS specs

Engine: 2.0 litre turbo four
Power: 210kW @ 5300rpm
Torque: 380NM@1800rpm
0-100km/h: 4.7 secs
Gearbox: 6-dual-clutch auto
Brakes: discs f&r
Wheels: 19 inch
Price: $99,900

From Unique Cars #442, July 2020

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