FIRST DRIVE
Audi TT 2.0TDI Quattro - Test Drive
German maker Audi has won the famous Le Mands 24hr race with diesel and now it has put a derv powered unit in its trendy sportscar - the TT.
You might think that its not very sporty if it is powered by a diesel engine, but don't be fooled this is a great car. It has pure sportiness and powerful performance, the boffins have combined this with sensational efficiency giving us the Audi TT Coupé 2.0 TDI quattro.
STYLING
The TT looks great, a few details have changed but the designers at Audi have kept the car largely the same as the previous generation which made such an impact when it was launched.
The lines flow better and give the car a more manly appeal, the TT is less girly looking.
The LED daytime running lights add to the imapct when you view the vehicle from the front, while from the side the TT has a sleek profile.
INTERIOR
Once you climb onboard, you can tell this model has been finished with class. The workmanship is of high quality, the interior delivers a racy but sophisticated cockpit.
The steering wheel has three spokes and it is flat-bottomed making ideal for the enthusiast. The interior is decked out in leather and high quality materials, it feels and looks classy.
PERFORMANCE
The 2.0 TDI in the Audi TT Coupé produces 172PS at 4,200 rpm, and it has more than enough grunt to get past slower traffic as it has 350 Nm of torque. The TT's engine is not noticeable when driving 'normally', it is not until you rev it out that you notice that you are driving a diesel car. The Audi TT Coupé 2.0 TDI quattro comfortably leaves petrol-engine rivals behind in the mid-range spurt, this is really noticeable when passing slower traffic on minor roads. The TT completes the sprint from zero to 62 mph in just 7.5 seconds and has a top speed of 140 mph.
OWNERSHIP
The new 2.0 litre four-cylinder diesel delivers dynamic thrust, with a power output of 125 kW (172PS) and 350 Nm of torque. Yet at the same time the TT Coupé consumes on average only around 53.3 mpg (5.3 litres of fuel per 100 km). The new common rail injection system is equipped with state-of-the-art piezo injectors. Its eight-hole injectors can achieve up to five separate injection events every combustion cycle.
AT A GLANCE
| Name/Price: | Audi TT |
| Engine/power: | 2.0TDI Quattro/172PS |
| Co2 emissions: | 139 g/km |
| Official Combined fuel economy: | 53.3 mpg |
IMN VERDICT
Cracking performance for a diesel powered car, the best part is that you get plenty of power and low down grunt aligned to a smashing return on the fuel economy.
Simon McBride