2008 Audi TT

Below the beltline, this newest TT variant shares bodywork and interior bits with its 2+2 closed counterpart but remains a pure two-seater.

True to the formula, the Roadster s soft-top also mixes steel and aluminum in its skeletal understructure. A center latched manual unit is standard in the 2.0 TFSI, while the 3.2 V-6 Quattro gets a one-touch power top that s optional on the 2.0. The motorized lid opens and closes in about 12 seconds and can be deployed at speeds up to 20 mph.

Like the TT Coupe, the Roadster matches MacPherson struts up front with a new multilink rear suspension setup. While most of the TT's key components are culled from VW's latest Gen V Golf/Rabbit, Audi rendered them in lightweight aluminum instead of steel and added its Magnetic Ride Adaptive Damping system to the option list. Our initial encounter on twisting but traffic rich two-lane roads just above the Mediterranean provided only a tantalizing hint of the TT Roadster s real potential.

Strengths and weaknesses? Like all Audis, the TT roadster boasts exceptional materials and quality. The S tronic, probably the best transmission on the market, works particularly well in manual or sport mode when it blips the throttle during downshifts, Lamborghini Murcilago-style. The steering, the brakes, and the throttle are linear in action and beautifully blended in weight, so they instantly convey a confidence-inspiring, in-command feeling. The four-cylinder engine provides all the oomph you need in a car like this. Leather seats with Alcantara inserts are standard, and a napa full-leather treatment is optional. The cockpit is nicely laid out, but it lacks the latest MMI ergonomics found in the A6 and the A8, and it includes the silly, squared-off steering wheel first introduced in the European-market RS4. The standard suspension already is on the firm side when combined with the optional eighteen-inch wheels, so you definitely don't need the nineteen-inchers or the additional firmness provided by the optional magnetic-ride system. In all, the TT has been nicely upgraded without losing its iconic style, but it still lacks the driver involvement of a pure sports car.

By all accounts, the new Audi TT is everything the last one wasn't: a soulful, chunky little squirt of a car with the personality to match its carved-from-a-block-of-Bau's-Haus looks. We can but hope that the roadster version won't be any different.

The roadster's numbers are little different from the coupe's; Audi's 3.2-liter, 250-hp V-6 will make an appearance, along with a 2.0-liter TFSI turbo direct-injection four-cylinder. Like the coupe, the roadster is both longer (by 5.4 inches), wider (by 3.1 inches), and taller (by 0.3 inches) than its predecessor. Wheelbase increases as well, by 1.8 inches. Reinforced side sills and a-pillars are unique to the drop-top. Like the coupe, the four-cylinder roadster is front-wheel drive only, while the V-6 comes exclusively with all-wheel drive. An electric wind deflector will be available; Europeans will see both a power and a manual convertible top, but we'll only get the powered version.

Like the iPod, the new TT is a tailor-made tool for the digital age. It's oh-so-cool in appearance and character, it prioritizes efficiency over emotion, and it underpromises and overdelivers in a matter-of-fact style. The second-generation model combines a cool exterior and a classy cabin with a solid and competent chassis and drivetrain. In terms of sex appeal, the new TT outscores BMW's Z4 coupe and matches the Porsche Cayman. In terms of passenger and luggage space, it easily eclipses its iconic predecessor. And in terms of handling and performance, it's the only contestant in this class to offer four-wheel drive and a clever, dual-clutch transmission. This all sounds good, but there's more to the story. The genetic code of the latest TT is rather coarsely woven; the TT is a Volkswagen Rabbit--or an Audi A3, if you will--dressed up for the catwalk.

In 2008, Audi will add a 300-hp, direct-injection version of the narrow-angle six. The TT 2.0 is front-wheel drive only, while the VR6 comes exclusively with Quattro four-wheel drive. You can choose between a conventional manual and a twin-clutch DSG automatic transmission, both with six forward ratios. We drove the TT VR6 S-tronic, which is a true energy bundle. According to Audi, it accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 5.7 seconds and tops out at a governed 155 mph.

The Audi TT has been re-engineered for 2008 and Audi has done a fine job of updating it. The 2008 model is dynamically superior to it predecessor and its edgier looks are already making the last model seem old. Midwestern buyers can use the car all year thanks to available all-wheel drive. The hatchback coupe offers cargo versatility while the roadster offers top-down fun. If you're looking for a sporty weekend toy, or even a year round sports car, make sure the 2008 TT is on your shopping list. Be careful about how you outfit your TT, though, because prices rise quickly with options.