2008 Audi TT 3.2 quattro Road Test

When the first TT hit the streets, it was immediately applauded for its distinct, sensual, sexy sheetmetal. With its multiple curves and its sloping roofline, the initial TT turned heads wherever it went.

As years went by, we've gotten used to the TT, and other cute little sport coupes have come along, which kind of relegated the TT onto the back burner. Audi had to retaliate.

Here's the new 2008 TT. It's making a comeback, and is more beautiful and sexier than ever.

Modern yet timeless lines.

A true beauty
Unlike a certain young female pop singer that's desperately yet unsuccessfully trying to rekindle with past glory, the TT's return onto the stage gets a thumbs-up. Audi created a car that's visually more exciting than the old one, and it doesn't seem to have gained any weight.

It still features a streamlined roofline and more curves than a supermodel, and dressed up in red paint like my test car is, the TT never goes unnoticed.

While Audi had to retrofit a small rear spoiler on the rump of the first TTs to assure its high-speed stability, it's now articulated on the new model; at low speeds, it's flush-fit in the tail of the car, rising at 120 km/h and going back down at 80. It's always an exciting moment to see the spoiler deploying itself in the rear view mirror.

However, practicality and safety was neglected in favour of styling regarding the rear window; with its almost-flat angle, it would benefit from a rear wiper in rain or in winter, but it doesn't have one.

Tight cockpit
A warning to claustrophobics, this car is small, very small. I must perform a couple of body contortions to get in, and be careful not to bang my head at the same time. Once I'm in and sitting down, I feel like I'm in a can of sardines, and my head hits the rear view mirror while sneezing.

In short, with the diminutive size of the TT's interior, there's nothing much to do except drive. And that's a good thing, since it's something you'll love doing. The small steering wheel is perfect for spirited driving, the shifter works well, and the engine emits an aggressive sound when prodded. 2008 Audi TT 3.2 quattro Road Test from (http://www.auto123.com/en/audi/tt-coupe/2008/review?carid=1080601600&artid=91121)

Sports cars have never been the most spacious vehicles.

2008 Audi TT 3.2 quattro Road Test

f you want to check out a fantastic pair of TT's, you needn't look much farther then your local Audi dealership. The hot new models are in, with slim, sexy styling, muscular lines and scandalous figures. I hear that one of them will even go topless on demand, for a bit of extra money. That's the TT Roadster, by the way.

The new TT has a more dramatic and stern look compared to the previous model.

Memorable style
Updated for 2008, the look is even more dramatic and daring- less tubby and vastly more meaningful and stirring. The tall front grille is flanked with bi-xenon headlights, while energetic lines adorn the wind-swept body which is outlined in a classic 2+2 silhouette. The TT terminates in back with a set of 3-D taillights perched atop dual outlet exhaust. Its styling is truly memorable- sure to go down in the books. It doesn't look even slightly like an overturned bathtub, anymore.

Technology
The high tech "S-Tronic" transmission lets you make the tachometer needle dance to your hearts content. The shifter can be left in drive, in a sport mode, or parked off to the right allowing for steering-wheel mounted paddles to send gear-change commands down into the computer. Swapping of gears takes place in milliseconds, blipping included. There's even a computer guided launch control function to extract the best possible off-the-line acceleration while keeping the transmission shop's phone number out of your speed-dial.

S-tronic is a treat, and enables an F-1 soundtrack and a real euphoric rush. But the transmission can sometimes become clumsy in slow traffic: occasionally displaying a confused state of mind, holding a gear too long, selecting the wrong one for the situation, or lurching abruptly for no apparent reason.

These occasional clutzy decisions and the resulting harshness are unbecoming of a car wearing a $70,000 price tag.

Safe Speed
The suspension has an adaptive sport setting that can be selected to intelligently firm up the struts and actively tighten the TT's death-grip on the road. A speed-deployable rear spoiler helps in this department too, and always gets noticed by the occupants of the vehicle behind you. 2008 Audi TT 3.2 quattro Road Test from (http://www.auto123.com/en/audi/tt-coupe/2008/review?carid=1080601600&artid=85520)

The TT feels as though is it riveted to the ground thanks to its sophisticated adaptive sport