Exterior design

The TT* success story began 20 years ago when development of the first model began. Although the original TT debuted as a coupe, the first design model was a roadster. Even then the circle was the central motif – the arcs around the wheel arches at the front and rear were in exciting contrast to the strictly horizontal lines. This timeless architecture quickly earned the TT and TT Roadster a reputation among automobile fans as a design icon – a powerful driver for the further development of the Audi brand.

Just slightly larger than the original TT, the third generation of the TT Roadster also has a powerful and compact road stance. It is 4,177 millimeters (13.7 ft) long and has a wheelbase of 2,505 millimeters (8.2 ft). The overhangs are short. Width and height are 1,832 and 1,355 millimeters (6.0 ft and 4.4 ft), respectively. Compared with its predecessor, the new Roadster is 21 millimeters (0.8 in) shorter and 10 millimeters (0.4 in) narrower. Its wheelbase, however, has grown by 37 millimeters (1.5 in). The TTS Roadster is slightly longer and a little lower.

Just how well the new Audi design line has been received by the experts is apparent from two awards the TT Coupé received shortly after its debut. The 2+2-seater was named “Innovation of the Year” in the “Automotive Brand Contest” initiated by the prestigious German Design Council. Shortly thereafter, the compact sports car was honored with the “German Design Award” – which is also sponsored by the German Design Council – in the category “Transportation and Public Design”.

Classic: motifs from the original TT Roadster
The Audi designers took up many ideas from the first TT Roadster and refined them. On the flanks these are the muscularly arched shoulders, the light-refracting edge on the sculpted side sills, and the wheel arches, which seem to be superimposed. The front wheel arch intersects the edge of the engine hood, which continues over the door as a shoulder line. At the rear, the lights organically integrated into the design and the side-by-side tailpipes of the exhaust system evoke the original TT.

Above the right rear wheel is the round tank flap, another classic TT feature. The driver opens it by pressing the embossed logo, then inserts the nozzle directly into the opening. As in racing, there is no cap to unscrew.

New facets: the front end
The fusion of typical TT elements with the new, dynamic line results in a progressive design character. With its emphatically horizontal design the front end conveys athletic energy. The small triangles between the Singleframe grille and the headlights are attractive facets. The wide, low grille and the rings on the front hood are reminiscent of the Audi R8 high-performance sports car. Vertical, slightly inclined bars divide the air inlets, and a flat opening below the Singleframe joins them together.

The new TT Roadster comes standard with xenon plus headlights, with LED headlights or Matrix LED headlights available as an option. With the latter, 12 small, individually controllable light-emitting diodes per headlight generate the high beam. The traffic situation is analyzed using a camera on the interior mirror. On the basis of this information, the controller switches the individual diodes on or off, or dims them in 64 steps.

In this way the new headlight system can produce several million light patterns. It prevents other road users from being dazzled by glare and ensures that the road is always brightly illuminated.

In combination with MMI navigation plus, the Matrix LED headlights offer another high-end function: The predictive cornering light is activated on the basis of the route data before the steering wheel is turned.

400 millisecond cycle time: the dynamic turn signals
With the optional headlights, the daytime running lights comprise three bars arranged as a grille. Light-emitting diodes illuminate them via thick-wall optics. The dynamic turn signals are another Audi innovation contributing to road safety. They move with a 400 millisecond cycle time in the direction the driver intends to turn, providing other road users with additional information. In combination with the LED headlights, dynamic turn signals are used in the rear; they are also used up front in combination with the Matrix LED units.

Horizontal lines also underscore the width of the open-topped sports car at the rear. The bars in the standard LED lights, which adopt the motif of the headlights, are permanently illuminated. During strong braking, the adaptive brake light blinks rapidly. The third brake light connects the two units as a strip on the lip of the luggage compartment lid. A diffuser integrates the exhaust tailpipes. At speeds above 120 km/h (74.6 mph), a spoiler extends electrically from the luggage compartment lid to generate downforce on the rear axle.

Even sharper: the S line exterior package
Audi offers the new TT Roadster with the optional S line exterior package, which adds additional sharp accents at the front, on the flanks and at the rear, such as the sportily distinctive air inlets and the aerodynamic side sills. Even more distinctive are the lines of the TTS Roadster, most conspicuously with the chrome-plated housings of the side mirrors and the wide diffuser, which incorporates the four exhaust tailpipes.

The choice of paint finishes is more colorful than before. The solid colors are brilliant black, ibis white and Vegas yellow; the metallic paint finishes floret silver, glacier white, monsoon gray, mythos black, nano gray (new at Audi), scuba blue and tango red (new at Audi).

Daytona gray, pearl effect is available in the S line sport package and with the TTS Roadster. The color Sepang blue and the crystal effect paint finish panther black are reserved for the TTS Roadster.

The equipment, data and prices specified in this document refer to the model range offered in Germany. Subject to change without notice; errors and omissions excepted.