2016 Audi TT Preview

Exterior Features

About the same size as the previous-generation model, but with a longer wheelbase and shorter front and rear overhangs, the new third-generation 2016 Audi TT adheres to the design tenets that made it such a hit when it first arrived in the United States in the late 1990s. The new TT is lighter, too, due to extensive use of aluminum and high-strength steel in its construction. In base format, the 2016 TT tips the scales at just over 2,700 lbs.

As an option, owners can upgrade the TT to LED headlights or, in some global markets, Audi Matrix LED headlights. Dynamic front and rear sequential turn signal indicators are included with the LED lighting upgrades, and they feature predictive corner lighting based on information from the navigation system, illuminating around corners before the driver turns the steering wheel.

Audi offers a greater range of exterior paint colors for the 2016 TT, with a couple of them exclusive to the performance-tweaked TTS model. A range of wheels and designs is available, and the standard 17-in. wheels are forged aluminum, weighing less than 20 lbs. each. Around back, a rear spoiler automatically deploys at 75 mph to increase aerodynamic downforce, and the TT features signature dual round exhaust outlets.

Interior Features

In order to give the redesigned 2016 Audi TT a minimalist appearance, the cabin includes new Audi Virtual Cockpit technology that combines the instrumentation and the Multi-Media Interface (MMI) system into a single 12.3-in. configurable display. The controls for the heating and air conditioning system are integrated with the car's large round air vents.

The new Audi TT still seats four people in a 2+2 configuration. Sport seats are standard, along with a flat-bottom multi-function steering wheel. The TT holds 10.8 cu. ft. of cargo behind the rear seat, space that can easily be doubled by folding the back seats down.

Optional Features

Audi offers a longer list of options for the 2016 TT than it did for the previous car. Highlights include several upgrades to the standard MMI system, as well as a 12-speaker premium audio system, diamond-quilted leather, heated front seats, high-beam assist, and an S-Line package that gives the standard TT a sportier look, inside and out.

Under the Hood

A turbocharged, direct-injection, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine is standard for the 2016 Audi TT, preliminarily rated to generate 230 horsepower. The TTS is equipped with a 310-horsepower version of the same engine. Each is calibrated to deliver peak torque across a broad portion of the rev range, and an automatic start/stop system is standard.

Both the TT and the TTS are equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The TT model features standard front-wheel drive, while the TTS has a Quattro all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. Quattro is optional for the TT, and both versions of the car can be fitted with a 7-speed S-tronic automated dual-clutch manual transmission with paddle shifters. In TTS models, S-tronic includes standard launch control.

For the 2016 Audi TT, the Quattro AWD system is refined and networked with the available Audi Drive Select system. Power is apportioned based on ambient conditions, driving style, and driver input, and whether or not Audi Drive Select is in Efficiency, Comfort, Auto, or Dynamic driving mode. According to Audi, acceleration to 60 mph takes as little as 4.7 seconds for the TTS and 6.0 seconds for the TT.

When placed in Efficiency mode, the TT's S-tronic transmission freewheels when the driver releases the accelerator pedal, helping to improve fuel economy, Audi says. Additional mechanical enhancements include torque-vectoring technology with an available Sport mode, a new version of Audi Magnetic Ride suspension, and a new progressive steering system that provides more direct steering response the more the driver turns the wheel.

Safety

Audi offers several safety-related upgrades for the 2016 TT. They include Audi Side Assist (a blind-spot information system) and Audi Active Lane Assist (a lane-departure warning system).

Technology

Loaded with new technology, every version of the 2016 Audi TT features Audi Virtual Cockpit design--a 12.3-in. color high-resolution information screen that the driver can configure to Classic, Infotainment, and, in the TTS, Sport display modes. Audi Virtual Cockpit combines traditional instrumentation with the Audi MMI display, eliminating the need for a separate screen in the center of the dashboard.

The MMI system is still controlled using a rotary knob and related switches located on the car's center console. For the new TT, the available MMI Touch upgrade supplies a handwriting-recognition touchpad that allows the driver to input data using fingertip gestures, to scroll through lists, and to zoom in and zoom out on information.

Main Menu and Back buttons flank the MMI controller, and the system offers toggle switches to activate primary MMI functions such as navigation/map, radio, telephone, and media menus. Menu structures are patterned after smartphones, and the system allows for free text search.

Additionally, with MMI Direct Search capability, the driver can start entering a destination on the MMI Touch controller once the navigation/map menu is chosen. The system provides context-dependent buttons to enhance functionality and options, and employs natural voice-recognition technology that allows the driver to operate the MMI system without removing his or her hands from the steering wheel.

In addition to these technologies, the new TT offers Audi Connect services with in-vehicle Wi-Fi access, Audi Phone Box smartphone integration, and an Audi Park Assist system that steers the car into a space while the driver operates the steering and foot pedals.