Audi TTS Roadster

 

What‘s it? The hottest version of Audi TTS Roadster fabric-roofed TT. Like its coupe sister, the roadster S gets a highly tuned version from the familiar Volkswagen group 2. 0-litre TFSI petrol engine, with drive supplied to all four wheels via a Haldex clutch on the rear axle. Suspension has also been uprated and also the Roadster S gets a unique bodykit. The headline figures are 269bhp and 5. 6-second 0-62mph time. That’s better compared to the standard, 2. 7-litre version from the Porsche Boxster – however the Audi is likewise more costly than its ultra-desirable rival.

That’s a brave – or possibly foolish - decision on Audi’s part. What’s it like? A curious mixture of the brilliant and underwhelming. The engine is that the highlight from the experience – torquey, happy to rev and almost completely free from the kind of lag you may expect to afflict a turbocharged engine using this kind of per-litre output. The optional quick-shift gearbox in our test car would be a pleasure to make use of too, swapping ratios having a precision and speed in order to make the extra investment required to the full-spec twin-clutch DSG seem like relatively poor value. And nobody would deny the S looks good – the mixture of low stance, well-judged bodykit Audi TTS Roadster and chunky alloy wheels giving it the kind of visual purpose that the remainder of the TT range struggles to provide. Nobody will certainly accuse this one among looking girly.

Unfortunately the S’s chassis is less convincing. Grip levels are high, and also the car could be driven rich in confidence at serious velocities. However it fails to provide the kind of dynamic involvement you’d expect to locate in something so explicitly driver focussed. The steering lacks feel and also the front-end loses grip sooner than you‘d expect. So, should I buy one? There’s lots to like in regards to the TT S roadster, however it doesn’t feel as special as it requires to if this wishes to justify its Boxster-beating pricetag. Good like the Audi is, it may be very difficult to justify choosing one over a 2. 7-litre Boxster.