Audi TT (2014) first official sketches

By Ollie Kew (images by Auto Bild/Larson)

First Official Pictures

20 February 2014 11:00

Official Audi design sketches revealed today show the exterior styling of the new TT coupe. Festooned with cues from the original 1998 TT – something of a modern classic – the new car marries typical Audi cues with sharper, more aggressive details. It looks awfully close to CAR’s artist’s impression of the new TT in our gallery (see right).

The new TT uses an angular ‘singleframe’ grille up front, but the four-ringed Audi badge migrates up onto the bonnet. It’s a link to the R8 supercar – the only other Audi car to not wear its jewellery in the main grille.

The bulbous front wheelarch cuts into the bonnet shutline – a TT hallmark seen on the first- and second-gen cars. However, there are modern touches up front too – note the vertical intake strakes seen on recent Audi concept cars, and the intricate LED headlights.

The TT’s profile looks similar to today’s car, but a sharp styling crease along the flank and kinked C-pillar tighten up the lines. The rear houses more LED lamp tech, a subtle lip around the pop-up aerofoil, and bold twin exhaust pipes set into a faux-diffuser bumper. Again, the overall look is captured by our keen-eyed artist’s rendering.

We’ve already seen the new car’s stunning cabin, which Audi claims is designed to look like an aircraft wing. Click here for CAR’s complete examination of the new TT’s gorgeous cockpit.

The new TT isn’t just a looker inside and out – it should be the best TT to drive ever. Switching to the MQB chassis platform used in the VW Golf, Seat Leon and Audi A3 allows a 60kg weight saving. The most basic new TTs could weigh in as little as 1200kg – 180kg less than a Porsche 911.

With engines packing almost 400bhp in the pipeline, the faster, lither TT Mk3 could usurp the tweaked VW Scirocco as Germany’s coolest everyday coupe. Spare a thought for £25k+ competitors like the Toyota GT86 and Nissan 370Z – that’s where the basic four-cylinder TT will be priced. A new five-pot TTRS packing that Cayman-shaming 380bhp will follow later, costing over £50,000.

The new Audi TT will make its debut at the Geneva motor show on 3 March 2014. Stay tuned to CAR Online’s Geneva motor show coverage for the very latest news.

By Ollie Kew (images Auto Bild/Larson)