Test drive Audi TTS Coupe: unexpectedly successful combination

Audi is fundamentally changing the hierarchy in the TT model range - from now on, the top version of the sports model will be equipped with a four-cylinder engine that relies primarily on high efficiency.

Considering that the most powerful TT version currently has a 3,2-liter V6 engine with 250 horsepower under the hood, it's logical to expect the flagship TTS to be equipped with this or even a larger unit. ... However, the Ingolstadt engineers opted for a completely different policy, and the TT bash athlete got a redesigned version of the 2.0 TSI four-cylinder, which despite two cylinders produces less than 22 horsepower and 30 Nm more than the classic six.

Where did the two cylinders go?

Welcome to the world of downsizing sports cars – downsizing logically means lighter weight, direct fuel injection into the cylinders reduces fuel consumption, and the turbocharged boost system with a maximum pressure of up to 1,2 bar is reduced. concern for decent efficiency. The 72 horsepower jump over the "regular" version was achieved precisely by increasing the size and changing the characteristics of the turbine. The designers paid special attention to the "strengthening" of the most loaded elements, such as pistons. The result of their efforts will seem intimidating to someone - its liter capacity of 137 hp. s./l TTS surpasses even the Porsche 911 Turbo...

On the road, the drive characteristics are even more impressive than can be understood in the language of dry numbers - lowered by ten millimeters, the coupe is thrown from a standstill to a hundred kilometers per hour in 5,4 seconds - just as long as the Porsche Cayman S central engine needs. stays the same even at speeds far in excess of those permitted by national regulations, and remains just as powerful regardless of speed.

Athlete from Ingolstadt

In general, when someone sees approaching daytime running lights with TTS LED technology on the highway, it would be good to know that this car can count on most of its competitors with a speed limit of 250 km / h. Whether it is traveling at 130 or 220 km / h, the Ingolstadt athlete remains unwaveringly stable, as if held by invisible handrails. The steering is pleasantly direct but not overly jittery in its response, so high-speed highway driving will definitely become one of the TTS owners' favorite pursuits. However, care must be taken when driving through sharp cross joints or undulating bumps, as the vehicle becomes restless under such conditions due to extremely tight suspension adjustments.

The direct transmission with two dry clutches S-Tronic shifts gears with the professionalism of an experienced pilot, and activating Sport mode makes real sense mainly on roads with a lot of bends. The maximum torque curve of 350 Nm remains constant over a wide range between 2500 and 5000 rpm. The gearbox shifts without noticeable loss of traction, but even that can't hide one hundred percent the tendency of the XNUMX-liter turbo to think before putting in all its power. This feature of all cars with a relatively small displacement and forced refueling with only one compressor is inevitable, but in case of particularly ambitious cornering attacks, it should be well taken into account in order to avoid unwanted surprises due to a short stall of the car.

First violin

Otherwise, the unit tirelessly spins up to the limit of 6800 rpm and the only thing that supporters of the six-cylinder fraction may be unhappy with is the lack of a sufficiently expressive sound of the engine itself. While claims about the TTS's lack of pleasing acoustic design actually seem a little overblown - it's true that the engine itself may not be as loud as its 3,2-litre counterpart - but its exhaust system is tuned so that, in addition to a representative roar, it reproduces an attractive even detonation in the exhaust gases during a sharp change in speed. This effect of the exhaust system, equipped with four oval chrome tailpipes, is a real testosterone spectacle for those standing outside, while only a carefully measured dose of it reaches the ears of the pilot and his companion in the form of a short deafening roar.

The enviable dynamic potential of the TTS easily requires a sporty driving style, but the car's behavior quickly shows that there is no epic battle between man and machine, as can be seen in competitors such as the BMW Z4, Porsche Cayman or Nissan 350Z. Rather, it is a balanced and well-balanced character with an athletic bent. The steering seems surprisingly simple at first, but the precise workings of the steering system are quickly revealed - the sports coupe allows it to experience what most cars in its place would throw off balance, while completely ignoring the provocations of "steering". . With too little or too much traction entering a fast-changing corner, the TTS starts to understeer, but once it's on the right track, it pulls like a locomotive even at full throttle.

The 17-inch disc brake system works like a racing model and provides the driver with the necessary safety in all situations. If you choose to race as a rally racer for a long time, the cost will naturally rise to rather alarming levels (although it is still lower than some competitors in the class), but if your right foot is more moderate in its actions, you will be surprised quite reasonable consumption values.

text: Boyan Boshnakov

a photo: Miroslav Nikolov

technical details

Audi TTS Coupe S-Tronic
Working volume	-
Power	272 k. From. at 6000 rpm
Maximum torque	-
Acceleration 0-100 km / h	5,4 with
Braking distances at a speed of 100 km / h	-
full speed	250 km / h
Average consumption fuel in the test	11,9 l
Base Price	109 422 levov