The first Audi TT was introduced in 1998, making this year the iconic two-door coupe’s 20th anniversary, and while the third-generation car is still quite fresh and in little need for a full-on replacement, Audi has treated the entire range to a facelift that will start appearing in showrooms in latter 2018.
A more direct gesture of appreciation for the TT is expressed in a new limited run of ’20 Years’ special edition TTs, which will be capped at 999 examples worldwide and evokes cues from the 1995 concept vehicle that started it all.
The 2018 Audi TT for the rest of us, however, won’t be as bold. In fact, it’s might be quite difficult for the average person to distinguish between the new post-facelift TT from when it debuted in 3rd-generation form back in late 2014.
Audi describes the aesthetic changes made, though subtle, to be even sportier and masculine than before thanks to a newer Singleframe grille design and flanked by larger side air inlets to emphasise the car’s width and road presence. There’s also 3 new paint options to choose from: Turbo Blue, Pulse Orange, and Cosmos Blue.
Past this point, depending which variant is chosen, the number of exterior alterations vary on the 2018 TT. For example, thanks to the standard fitment of the S-Line package, the more powerful TTS will receive a full length front splitter, vertical air inlets below the rear lights, quad exhausts exits, and a wider rear diffuser.
The present day TT’s cabin has been lauded for rather successfully its uncluttered layout while making innovative use to technology to improve ergonomics. In that respect, entirely all of those attributes have carried over to the 2018 model, but now premium features such as the Virtual Cockpit are now standard even at the entry level, so too is the multifunction steering wheel and Audi Drive Select.
Previously, certain markets would sell base model TTs with a 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol motor. Now, though, the TT will be offered with essentially one engine but in various states of tune - a 2.0-litre four-cylinder EA888 turbo-petrol shared with the Volkswagen Golf GTI and others.
In its least powerful guise, the new TT offers up 147kW and 320Nm which is sent to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission or an optional 7-speed S tronic dual clutch, with even more power and all-wheel drive being progressively available further up the ladder.
Don’t despair, though, as there is indeed no plans to have the smaller engine supplant the 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder unit in the TT RS, and that’s due to soon receive the same facelift treatment to fall in line with the updated range.
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