Perhaps realizing the bulk of showgoing public would glaze over the ‘all-new’ TT at the recent Geneva motor show, Audi also showed a thinly veiled ‘concept’ version that points towards a sportier variation of the third generation TT.
It’s no surprise that Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi Group board member for Technical Development, was heavily involved in the creation of the new production model, shaving weight and improving performance and environmental efficiency on the new MQB-based TT. The board is now adamant on producing a more race-bred version of that car.
The Audi TT quattro sport concept — to give it its full name — is powered by a two-liter four-cylinder turbocharged FSI engine that creates a staggering 420hp at 6,700rpm. It’s a phenomenal achievement, besting the power per displacement ratio of Audi’s 2001 Le Mans R8 racing car and setting a new record for two-liter performance output.
Power is transferred to tarmac via a three-shaft S tronic dual-clutch transmission and — as the name implies — Audi’s defining quattro all-wheel drive system. The combination of engine tuning and drivetrain makes for a 1344 kg (2963 lbs.) sports car that can achieve to 62mph in a scant 3.7 seconds.
The car also features uprated brakes and suspension components, wheels that are made of carbon and alloy, a front splitter made of carbon-fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and a carbon fiber rear spoiler mounted on milled aluminum supports.
Creative Wave, a design consultancy in Dachau, Germany, built the car in just two and a half weeks, adding 30mm wider wheel arches to conceal the 60mm wider front and rear tracks, lightweight carbon fiber spoilers all around and carbon support elements to the body.
“Race thinking” was applied to the interior, says studio design director Marcus Berry. “We stripped everything out, then put it back together using carbon fiber elements, a rollcage and lightweight seats.” The interior was trimmed in Alcantara, a smaller flat-bottom steering wheel was fitted, four point safety belts were added and the rear seats were removed.
Thankfully, Audi’s new virtual cockpit — which displays all information normally reserved for a central mounted dashboard screen onto a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster in front of the driver — was retained.
Given the public response to this concept at the Geneva show we’re inclined to believe that the Audi TT quattro sport will soon appear in production form in a limited series.
