Classic pearls of the future - Audi TT
07/03/2015
It's hard to believe, but the Audi TT will be 20 years old in September, at least as a concept car. It was in the fall of 1995, after around a year of preparation, that Audi presented the unusually shaped sports car, designed by Freeman Thomas, to an astonished and soon enthusiastic audience at the IAA in Frankfurt.
This positive response led to the decision to produce the coupé and also the TTS convertible, which was presented for the first time in the same year.
Of course, the prototype had to make some concessions, but the series version, which went on sale in 1998, did not deviate fundamentally from the prototype and was built on the VW Golf IV platform with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive.
The first version of the Audi TT/TTS left the production halls by 2006, but was diligently modified and fine-tuned throughout this time. The chassis had to be modified and a rear spoiler fitted after a number of nasty accidents occurred, which were blamed on the delicate handling of the short car. But there was also a six-cylinder engine in the front, the direct-shift gearbox and other refinements. And from 2005, the Audi TT quattro sport had 240 hp and was also optimized in terms of weight. A really fast racer!
The second generation followed in 2006, followed by the third generation in 2014, both no longer quite so different and special, but more strongly integrated into the brand range.
In three years' time, the first TT (the name is reminiscent of the famous NSU rear-engined sports saloons) will officially become a youngtimer; they are actually already classics today, even if not everyone is enthusiastic about the pudding-like shape.
More classic pearls of the future can be found in our constantly growing theme channel.
