First drive: Audi TT Roadster steps forward

THE wait is almost over, Audiphiles – the second-generation TT Roadster officially arrives here next month.

Following a generally favourable reception for the TT coupe since being launched late last year, there is a palpable anticipation for the convertible, even though numbers will be relatively small in Australia.

The previous model had the dubious distinction of being voted Gay Car of the Year in 2004, but the new one would happily forego its gay icon status with its more conservative styling.

Audi opted for a fabric folding roof again, having decided that the metal alternative favoured by many other car makers lately adds unnecessary complication and weight, raises the centre of gravity and affects boot space too severely.

The company also figures that buyers who really want a solid roof can choose the coupe version.

The cloth hood features steel and aluminium reinforcements, a larger glass rear window than the previous model and will be available in either black or dark grey.

Apart from the roof, the TT Roadster is largely identical to its hardtop sibling.

Audi Australia discontinued the six-speed manual transmission early last year and will once again offer the TT Roadster with only the so-called S tronic (dual-clutch DSG sequential semi-auto) transmission.

As with the TT coupe, there are two engine choices – the 2.0-litre turbo driving the front wheels only, and the 3.2-litre V6 driving all four wheels.

Power outputs are the same: 147kW at 5100-6000rpm and 280Nm at 1800-5000rpm for the 2.0 TFSI, and 184kW at 6300rpm and 320Nm at 2500-3000rpm for the 3.2 V6.

Pricing starts at $77,500 for the 2.0 TFSI – a premium of $5000 over the equivalent coupe – and includes an electrically-operated roof, wind blocker, heated front sports seats with lumbar support, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, a flat-bottomed leather-bound steering wheel with paddle shifts, 17-inch alloy wheels and Bluetooth phone preparation.

The 3.2 V6 quattro is priced at $92,900 – $4000 more than the 3.2 coupe – and additionally comes with electric seat adjustment, 18-inch alloys and leather upholstery.

All Roadsters feature high-strength steel rollover bars, an electric rear spoiler that automatic raises at 120km/h (it can also be activated at the push of a button), a new audio system and a driver information system.

The standard electrohydraulic opening system opens the roof at the push of a button in just 12 seconds and can be operated at speeds of up to 50km/h.

The roof also incorporates an additional layer of soundproofing beneath the black headliner for better insulation over the manual roof that is standard on the 2.0 TFSI in Europe.

Like the coupe, the TT Roadster body benefits from the new aluminium and steel spaceframe chassis construction that is not only much lighter than then previous all-steel system but also aids torsional stiffness, which is vital for a convertible.

To further improve the structural rigidity of the convertible, Audi replaced the coupe’s side sills with complex extruded aluminium sections, strengthened the A-pillars and added a steel tube into the windscreen frame.

Audi claims that the result is a 120 per cent improvement in static torsional rigidity over the previous model.

The 2.0 TFSI weighs just 1295kg compared with 1380kg for the previous 1.8 auto.

Compared with the original, the new TT Roadster is 137mm longer at 4178mm, 78mm wider at 1842mm, 8mm higher at 1358mm and sits on a 46mm longer wheelbase at 2468mm.

Inside, there is more shoulder width, head and elbow room, and luggage space expands from 210 to 250 litres.

The 2.0 TFSI S tronic is claimed to sprint to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds (just one-tenth slower than the coupe) on its way to a 237km/h top speed. Average fuel consumption on the combined European measure is 7.8L/100km.

The 3.2 quattro completes the 0-100km/h dash in a claimed 5.9 seconds (two-tenths slower than the coupe) on its way to a 250km/h top speed, using an average of 9.5L/100km.

Drive impressions:

ALL the positive aspects of the TT coupe that have garnered praise since it was released late last year are evident in the Roadster, making it a considerable improvement on the frankly disappointing first generation car.

On a brief test drive in northern Italy on mainly motorways, the new offering felt altogether more solid, thanks to the new chassis construction and all that underbody engineering work, which benefits both ride and handling.

As with the coupe, the interior is well laid-out, with big prominent dials, nice armrests in the doors and a handy padded armrest on the handbrake (though this will be useless for Australian drivers because the handbrake will remain offset to the left when it is converted to right-hand drive).

Better news for us Down Under is that the pedal offset, which results in a huge gap between brake and footrest in left-hand drive models, should disappear when they switch over to the other side.

The dash presents a large, hard plastic face to the passenger and I found it curious that there were three central air vents, but the flat-bottom steering wheel is a nice racey touch and the seats were quite supportive.

However, it is not all good news for the Roadster.

While the 3.2 felt quite light and lively, well-balanced and generally taut, the 2.0 was not so pleasant. The ageing engine seemed harsh and was prone to popping like turbos of the past, but more worrying was the poor door-shut quality. We hope it was just a tired pre-production sample.

We were also disappointed by the lack of a cover for the roof after it has retracted. It just looks incomplete and leaves gaps on either side big enough for pedestrians to drop a drink can or half-eaten hamburger into, left to rot or be fished out by the unimpressed owner.

Overall, though, the TT Roadster is a huge step forward over the original it looks fabulous (more stylish than the quirky original for mine), feels more solid (with reservations over those doors), does not squeal into understeer at the sight of a corner, the V6 is smooth and flexible, and it goes as fast as it looks.

2007 Audi TT Roadster pricing:
2.0 TFSI (a)	$77,500
3.2 V6 (a)	$92,900

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