25 years ago, Audi made a design history: Audi TT. Since its debut in 1998, this sports car has been the center of attention of the whole world for 3 generations, thanks to the entertainment it promises to drivers and its simple yet attractive design language. “Auto Europe” named it the best new car of the year in 1999.
In the mid-1990s, Audi introduced the luxury-class model, the Audi A8, and the brand moved to a higher position. This is the same zamAt the same time, it gradually brought with it the renaming of the model series. First it was the Audi 80, the Audi A4. Audi 100 continued on its way as Audi A6. Introduced in 1994, the Audi A4 was the first model to incorporate Audi's new design language. It was followed by the premium compact car Audi A1996 introduced in 3, followed by the second generation Audi A1997 introduced in 6.
In the brand's process of stirring emotions with a fresh, progressive design, American designer Freeman Thomas created the Audi TT Coupe as a purebred sports car under the direction of then Head of Design Peter Schreyer. Audi introduced the work to the audience at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1995. The model name “TT” resembled the legendary Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man, one of the oldest motorsport events in the world, where NSU and DKW had great success with their motorcycles. "TT" is the same zamAt the time it was also reminiscent of the sporty NSU TT of the 1960s. The departure of the Audi TT Coupe from the usual Audi terminology also emphasized that the model was completely new.
Designer Wenzel: “Each form in the Audi TT has a clear function”
Production of the Audi TT Coupe was decided in December 1995. Audi's exterior designer Torsten Wenzel, who played a role in transferring the work to mass production, recalls that period with these words: “The biggest praise for us was that the industry press stated that there was not much change in the transition from the work to the serial model. Of course, we had to adapt many details, including the body proportions, due to the technical specifications in the serial production version.”
Most notable was the integration of the rear side window, which lengthens the car's profile and enhances the sports car's dynamics. For Wenzel, the Audi TT is “a road-going work of art with quality surfaces and lines”. Again, according to Wenzel, the body of the Audi TT looks like a single piece, and the front without the traditional bumper protrusion creates a clear shape.
Another design element contributed to the unique silhouette of the Audi TT Coupé. According to Wenzel, the circle is the “perfect graphic form”. Numerous circular elements inspired the exterior and interior of the sports car. In the Bauhaus-inspired Audi TT, every line had a purpose, every shape had a function. “As Audi Design, every zamWe follow the 'less is more' philosophy. Revealing the unique character of the Audi TT Coupe from the ground up was a challenging and special undertaking for us designers.”
Two years anniversary in one year: Audi Hungaria celebrates together with Audi TT
In 1998 the Audi TT Coupe entered mass production. A year later, Audi introduced the TT Roadster version to the market. The show car on display and the Audi A1996 sports car launched in 3 were also based on the transverse engine platform of the VW Golf IV. The TT was produced in Hungary from the very beginning by Audi Hungaria Motor Kft. Painted TT hull elements were transported overnight by rail from Ingolstadt to Győr, where final assembly took place. This inter-factory production method between Ingolstadt and Győr zammoments were unique in the automotive industry.
Audi Hungaria, a wholly owned subsidiary of AUDI AG, is also celebrating its 2023th anniversary in 30. Established in February 1993 as a mere engine production facility, Audi Hungaria undertook the assembly of the Audi TT in 1998 in cooperation with the Ingolstadt plant. The company turned into a full-fledged automobile factory in 2013. Since its inception, Audi Hungary has produced more than 43 million engines and nearly two million vehicles.
The engine variety in the first generation Audi TT was very rich. Of course every zamthe moment was sporty. For example, the first generation TT hit the road with four-cylinder turbo engines with a power range of 150 to 225 PS and a V250 with 6 PS. In addition, the Audi TT quattro Sport had a four-cylinder engine producing 240 PS. 1.168 of this version were produced. First generation TT customers had many options when it came to special equipment. Apart from special colors such as Papaya Orange or Nogaro Blue, TT could equip it with special accessories ex works. For example, the "baseball glove" design of the leather seats, which attracted attention in the Audi TT Roadster's show car, went into mass production. During its more than eight years in production, 8 units of the first generation Audi TT Coupe (Type 2006N) were produced until mid-178.765. Between 1999 and 2006, exactly 90.733 Audi TT Roadsters were produced.
The TT product range was further expanded in the second generation with RS versions.
For the next two generations, the designers continued the design philosophy of "reduction to the basics". This meant, for example, a minimalist exterior design and a stylish, driver-oriented interior. Round forms and circular shapes are typical features of the TT product range and stand out as unifying elements in exterior and interior design. For example, on the aluminum fuel filler cap, round air vents, gearshift frame and gear knob.
The second generation TT was introduced to the market with the Coupe body type in 2006 and the Roadster body type in 2007. Also, the second generation TT was based on the Audi A3 platform. Audi magnetic driving feature and adaptive shock absorbers were used for the first time. Available as an option, this technology constantly adapted the dampers to suit the road profile and the driver's style. In 2008, the sports version TTS with a 2-liter turbo engine and 272 PS was introduced to the market. It was followed a year later by the Audi TT RS plus with a 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo engine with 340 PS and the TT RS with 360 PS. The brand with four rings introduced the TT 2008 TDI quattro, the world's first mass-produced sports car with a diesel engine, to the market in 2.0.
The third generation Audi TT was launched in 2014. Once again, Audi has introduced additional solutions to reduce weight. With the 2.0 TFSI engine and manual transmission, the TT Coupe weighed just 1.230 kg. It was up to 50 kg lighter than the previous generation. For the new TT and TT RS, designers have reinterpreted the flawless lines of the original TT from 1998 for the modern era. Many elements are reinforced with dynamic accents. But the round fuel cap with the typical TT lettering has remained the same for generations. Many details deliberately reminded of the first generation design. The third generation TT offered many technical innovations. This generation, for example, was the first to use the Audi virtual cockpit, with a highly advanced, multi-display all-digital instrument cluster replacing the analogue instruments and MMI display. In 2016, a new era in automotive lighting technology started with the Audi TT RS. Audi used organic LED technology known as OLED for the first time. The engine options of the sports car were also exciting. At the top of the product range, there was the Audi TTS, which produced 2 PS with its 310-liter turbo engine in the first place. This was followed in 2016 by the TT RS with a 2,5-liter five-cylinder turbo engine. It was one of the most exciting engines the four-ring brand has to offer. This engine had a sporty sound with 400 PS power. It was also named "International Engine of the Year" nine times in a row. Audi celebrates the anniversary of Audi TT in 100 with the Audi TT RS Coupe special series limited to 2023 units in Nardo Gray, emphasizing a quarter-century of design and technology.