Audi TT Roadster revealed

Audi has revealed its new third-generation TT Roadster. It will make its public debut at the upcoming Paris motor show. The standard coupé version of this third-gen Audi TT is slated to launch in India in 2015.

The new TT roadster receives a fresh appearance with hints of the Bauhaus design language from the original TT launched in 1999. This works in combination with a contemporary fabric hood that automatically stows in a dedicated space behind the cabin in just 10 seconds at the press of a button.

Among the new car’s more prominent design elements is a more angular grille, new trapezoidal-shaped headlights with complex LED internal graphics, a more heavily contoured clamshell-style bonnet, and added structure to the lower section of the front bumper. The four-ring Audi emblem has also been moved from the grille to the edge of the bonnet. Further back, the new Audi gets prominent wheel arch flares with wheels ranging from 17 to 20-inches in diameter.

A defined shoulder line, referred to by Audi as the Tornado line, runs the entire length of the flanks, from the trailing edge of the headlights through to the tail-lights. Holding true to the two-door layout of earlier models, the new TT Roadster continues to get rear end that boasts of a more defined lip to the end of the body. It also gets an automatic spoiler that deploys at speeds above 120kph, and more angular tail-lights that flaunt distinctive LED graphics.

The body of the new model uses a combination of aluminium and steel construction, leading to a claimed kerb weight, for the TT Roadster 2.0 TFSI, of 1320kg.

Volkswagen's flexible MQB platform is the basis for the new car. The Audi TT Roadster has a wheelbase of 2505mm, width of 1832mm and height of 1355mm. The multi-layer hood is supported by a frame consisting of aluminium, composite plastic, magnesium and steel components. It opens and closes at speeds up to 50kph. With the hood up, the nominal boot capacity is put at 280 litres.

The engine line-up for the new TT Roadster has a four-cylinder petrol and diesel in differing states of tune. They are mated to either a standard six-speed manual or an optional six-speed S-tronic gearbox. There’s also an option between front- or four-wheel drive depending on the model.

There will be a turbocharged 2.0-litre direct injection petrol unit that develops 227bhp and 37.7kgm of torque in the TT Roadster 2.0 TFSI and a more potent 306bhp and 38.7kgm in the range-topping TTS Roadster. This provides the new TTS Roadster with 38bhp and 3kgm more than its predecessor.

In combination with its multi-plate clutch four-wheel drive system and optional six-speed S-Tronic dual clutch gearbox, the car can accelerate from 0 to 100kph in a claimed 4.9sec. Top speed is limited to 250kph.

Also available will be a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder common rail diesel engine. It provides the TT Roadster 2.0 TDI with 181bhp and 38.7kgm of torque.