- Exterior: An Iconic Shape
- Strong Lineage
- Interior: Sports Car Minimalism
- Engines & Performance: Down To Two
- Driving Impressions: The Casual Sports Car
- Practicality: A Year-Round Driver
- Pricing: Ready To Bow Out
- Future In Doubt
We hope it returns someday. Maybe as an EV?
After 25 years on the market, 2023 will be the final model year of the iconic Audi TT. To celebrate one of its best designs of all time, Audi invited CarBuzz to its TT Celebration, a Cars & Coffee event at the company’s headquarters in Virginia. Following the event, Audi handed us the keys to a 2023 TTS Coupe and a TT Roadster for one last drive through some windy country roads.
The TT was never known as the ultimate driver's car, being based on the same platform as a Volkswagen Golf, but its universally acclaimed design helped it become one of the most recognizable sports cars of the 2000s. Through three generations and a quarter of a century on sale, the TT has generated a cult following that was on full display at Audi HQ. After driving the car, learning about its original development, and seeing the passion from the fans, it makes us a bit teary-eyed to remember that this is the last year you'll be able to buy a TT new.
Exterior: An Iconic Shape
The base Audi TT looks a little plain, riding on 18-inch wheels or optional 19s – it's still distinctive out in traffic, though. A $2,100 S Line Competition package adds more flavor with 19-inch wheels, black exterior trim, red brake calipers, and the high-gloss black spoiler from the TTS.
Stepping up to the TTS rolls in 20-inch wheels as standard. A $1,250 Bronze Package (pictured below) replaces the wheels with some S4-inspired bronze ones, while the $2,200 Competition Package brings black wheels and exterior bits and pieces, plus a fixed rear spoiler.
Colors for the TT are mostly the same as what's available on other Audi models, but the TTS unlocks one of our favorite shades called Turbo Blue. We also enjoyed the Navarra Blue on the Roadster and the Chronos Gray on the TTS Coupe when paired with the Bronze Package; it brings out the green in that hue.
Strong Lineage
As you'd expect from any car in a two-and-a-half-decade period, the TT has changed significantly since its introduction. That being said, it's definitely changed in an evolutionary, almost 911-like way. Each subsequent generation offered its own unique take on the original Freeman Thomas shape. Thomas originally designed the convertible, keeping the coupe a secret to prevent Porsche from stealing it.
The concept drawings featured an area for a spare tire in the back, but Thomas added a small rear seat to accommodate his then-seven-year-old daughter. The Roadster doesn't get a back seat, but it does have silver roll hoops and a built-in wind deflector.
Audi managed to keep the Mk2 and Mk3 models remarkably familiar. The second generation added some sharper edges, and the first TT RS performance variant got a turbocharged five-cylinder engine. This car struck such a chord with enthusiasts that Audi started a petition to bring it to the US, and enough people voted for it. With the third generation, Audi focused on making the TT more aggressive by incorporating the R DNA from the R8.
Interior: Sports Car Minimalism
With the number of complaints we hear about screens taking over car interiors, it's amazing that more people don't give Audi credit for the Mk3 TT's cabin. This car has a single screen, which doubles as the gauges and is controlled via the steering wheel or center console knob. Theoretically, you could leave it in gauge mode and pretend there are no screens. Every important function lives on that screen, though, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which can be a bit annoying if you are trying to perform multiple tasks or you are sitting in the passenger seat. It does at least free up the rest of the cabin to look positively fantastic.
All of the climate controls are housed within the air vents themselves and are easy to control. The seats on both the base car and TTS look visually appealing with diamond stitching and are also comfortable and supportive. The Bronze Package for the TTS even adds a special copper stitching to the fine Nappa leather that's reminiscent of the baseball stitch from the original TT. With this package added, all the interior elements are rendered in satin bronze, too, including the center console trim, the air vent trim, and the side of the seats.
Engines & Performance: Down To Two
For its final model year, the TT lineup has been significantly shrunken down. There's a base TT (available as a coupe or convertible) and the TTS, which can only be had as a coupe. Sadly, the five-cylinder TT RS was discontinued in the US for 2022 already. Base TT models get a familiar 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. This isn't a particularly powerful four-banger, but it lets the TT scamper to 60 mph in a reasonable 5.2 seconds (5.5 for the Roadster). Standard quattro all-wheel-drive and a quick-shifting seven-speed DSG transmission help the car perform smooth, effortless launches.
The TTS dials the engine up to 288 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. This model is capable of a 4.4-second 0-60 time, thanks to more power, AWD, and its clever transmission. The top speed is also increased from 130 to 155 mph. BMW's six-cylinder Z4 is quite a bit quicker but doesn't offer all-wheel-drive for year-round usability.
Driving Impressions: The Casual Sports Car
The TT is not our first choice of sports car to take on a track day, but it would absolutely rank near the top of our list for daily drivability. This is one of the most comfortable modern sports cars we've driven in both TTS Coupe and TT Roadster configuration. The TT Roadster doesn't feel particularly quick, but it's plenty responsive thanks to its dual-clutch transmission. You can lower the power top in just 10 seconds at speeds of up to 31 mph, then enjoy a nice cruise on a tight back road. The TTs' relatively small size makes it easy to place with reasonably sharp and communicative steering to engage the driver.
Drivers looking for more excitement without losing the livability will love the TTS. The 'S' variant offers a more throaty growl from the EA888 engine, which packs a more substantial punch. We absolutely love the feeling of the launch control, which performs a clutch dump and around 4,000 rpm. This is way more exciting than a conventional torque converter automatic, which typically launches from a lower rpm. The TTS is a bit stiffer than the base TT, but it's still more compliant and quieter on the highway than many other modern sports cars we've driven.
Practicality: A Year-Round Driver
Thanks to the quattro system, the TT can be driven year-round, even if it snows. As someone whose mother had an A4 Cabriolet when they were growing up in Pennsylvania, this writer can vouch for the system's prowess in cold weather conditions. The Roadster isn't very practical, with only two seats and a seven cubic foot trunk, but the TT Coupe could be used every day. Those rear seats are not meant for adults, but small children, pets, or groceries will fit just fine. The trunk in the coupe offers a respectable 12 cubic feet, which opens up even more with the rear seats folded down.
Even the fuel economy is decent for a sports car. The base TT manages 23/30/25 mpg city/highway/combined, and the TTS is actually better at 23/31/26 mpg.
Pricing: Ready To Bow Out
Almost everyone who wants a TT has one already; the sales numbers confirm it. US TT sales peaked back in 2008 with 4,486 units sold, but it's been a steady decline ever since. Last year, Audi only sold 461 of them.
Pricing starts at $52,200 for the TT Coupe or $56,300 for the TT Roadster. The BMW Z4 sDrive30i convertible is less powerful than the Roadster – and similarly priced, but it doesn't offer AWD. On the coupe side, the TT could be cross-shopped with the Porsche 718 Cayman, which is significantly more expensive and only slightly more powerful. Of course, the Toyota GR Supra offers similar performance with a mainstream badge at a much lower cost.
The TT RS is gone, leaving the TTS as the flagship for $61,900. Buyers who care more about performance figures should probably look at the Z4 M40i, which is more expensive, more powerful, and has a drop-top. The 718 Cayman range offers loads more performance, too. Within Audi's own lineup, there is the S3, which uses the same engine tuned to 306 hp in a more practical package, starting from $46,800 – but sans that special TT factor.
We can't think of many objective reasons to buy a TT in 2023. Subjectively though, it's still a gorgeous design that's fun to drive, comfortable, and surprisingly practical. The world will be a worse place without the TT in it.
Future In Doubt
There is no confirmed successor for the TT, no TT e-tron or e-tron TT… just uncertainty. Audi promises that “there will be sports cars” in the future, but that may not include the TT, which truly makes this the end after three generations. Written with a genuine surge of emotion, I remember how important this car was in my formative years as one of the first that triggered an interest in German cars. Sure, the R8 rocked the boat when it debuted as Iron Man's car, but it never felt attainable the way the TT did.
This writer hopes (even prays) that Audi brings the TT back as an EV. Just imagine that classic shape with two electric motors, superior performance, even better handling, and more space inside. Sounds pretty epic, right?
For now, we wave goodbye to the TT, a design icon that forever transformed Audi into the brand it is today.
Keyword: Driven: The 2023 Audi TT Is A Farewell To A Design Icon