Test drive: Audi TT Roadster 20 Aniversario, a success story

Audi celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Audi TT with this limited edition of 999 units, which we tested in Roadster form, paying tribute to a wonderful car that, unfortunately, will not continue within the brand of the four rings.

The third generation of the Audi TT was unveiled in summer 2018 and went on sale in our market in February 2019. Available in Coupé and Roadster body styles, the range currently includes two engines: the 40 TFSI with 197 CV and the 45 TFSI with 245 CV. Above them are the sporty TTS and TT RS variants, with 306 and 400 CV respectively. Except for the TT RS, which uses the renowned 5-cylinder 2.5-litre engine, the rest are based on the 2-litre 4-cylinder TFSI.

At the time, the success of this coupé, and the dieselisation the market was experiencing, even led Audi to include a variant with the brand’s 2.0 TDI. Undoubtedly, those were different times.

In this latest generation, coinciding with the 20th anniversary since the launch of the first TT, Audi opted for a slightly more refined design and greater technological equipment. The engines gained power, the suspension was adjusted to offer more sporty handling without compromising comfort, new driver assistance systems arrived… and the 20 Aniversario version.

What we did not know at the time is that, in addition to a tribute to the original Audi TT, in a way the 20 Aniversario series was also going to be a kind of farewell. Because at its last Annual General Meeting, held in May, the then CEO of the brand of the four rings announced that in a few years the TT will be replaced by a “new and exciting model, which will have electric propulsion”.

Regardless of whether the TT name is kept for Audi’s future compact electric sports car, what is clear is that we will not see a fourth-generation Audi TT with a combustion engine. For this reason, we think it is a good time to devote a test to a legendary car like this one, a true future classic, especially in its 20 Aniversario version… and with Roadster bodywork.

Sporty and convertible, yet suitable for daily use

What you have just read in the previous headline is not an empty claim, taking advantage of the fact that we are paying tribute. There is no need to get nostalgic; just drive the Audi TT Roadster and use it for a week as if it were your everyday car to change your perspective, and you will realise that a car like this can also be perfectly valid for going to work, for example.

That is one of the best virtues of the Audi TT: despite being a two-seater with a soft-top roof, and with a clearly sporty focus in this 20 Aniversario version, paired with the 45 TFSI engine with 245 CV, quattro traction and S tronic gearbox, we are dealing with a car that does just as well on a winding road as it does when cruising with refined ride quality and a high level of comfort. Even with fuel consumption lower than you might expect, as we will see later.

The magnificent finish of the fabric roof has a lot to do with this. It is quick and easy to operate, which can even be done on the move up to 50 km/h in about 10 seconds. It has a very good finish both from the inside and the outside, without interfering much with the car’s attractive lines when closed. The reversing camera and the parking sensors mean that visibility with the roof up is not a problem. Nor is space for two passengers: the TT Roadster is not a car in which you feel cramped, and there is no lack of headroom when the roof is up.

Two useful aids for driving without a roof. The first, the electrically retractable rear windshield deflector, which prevents the annoying turbulence that occurs when it is hidden if you drive on motorways at high speeds. The second, the “air scarf” system, which blows a pleasant jet of warm air from the headrests to the neck area. Together with heated seats, it is a solution that is appreciated when driving with the roof down even on the chilliest days.

Ah! And the boot volume remains the same regardless of the roof position, with 280 litres, enough capacity for the luggage of two people on the kind of trips you would normally plan with a car like this.

Otherwise, the TT Roadster offers the outstanding build quality that Audi has accustomed us to. The “S” seats are magnificent. The feel of all the buttons confirms the quality that is visually perceived, with sophisticated details such as the air conditioning temperature dials integrated into the air vents.

And the Audi virtual cockpit digital instrumentation is a real treat, and eliminates the need for a multimedia screen on the centre console. It does not even prevent the passenger from “snooping” around or operating the multimedia system, for example: from the passenger seat you can see practically the entire screen. By the way, the TT Coupé has not received the digitalisation that Audi is incorporating across its whole range, eliminating the rotary MMI controller in favour of touchscreens. To me, the former still seems more comfortable and safer.

Engine: performance and consumption

The 2.0 TFSI engine never ceases to surprise us. Every time we have tested it, in any of its power outputs, it wins us over with its smooth responsiveness and an outstanding balance between performance and consumption. And in this 245 CV variant, paired with the fantastic dual-clutch S tronic gearbox, it was no different.

The figures it achieves in the TT are very good, both in acceleration and in in-gear recovery. Its throttle response is immediate, probably one of the non-hybridised turbo engines in which the possible “turbo-lag” effect, or turbo response delay, is least noticeable. And if you want it to sound sportier, you can do so through the Audi drive select driving modes.

In efficiency mode, the engine can temporarily disconnect from the transmission when coasting, to improve consumption. Except in town, where the average of nearly 10 l/100 km is within expectations, everything else will be a surprise. On the motorway it is easy to stay between 7.5 and 8.5 l/100 km, depending on whether you drive with or without the roof. And in sporty driving, consumption does not soar, unlike other cars that could compete with this Audi TT Roadster on performance.

If you are considering a Porsche 718 Boxster, you are on the right track…

On the road: a convertible that does not feel like one

The good operation of the engine and transmission, combined with the safety and efficiency of quattro traction, work together with a very rigid chassis for a convertible, delivering first-class dynamic behaviour.

That is another of the car’s good points: it is extremely easy to drive, and things do not become complicated when you want to go fast. The steering has a very precise feel, the chassis does not excessively reveal poor road surfaces when driven with the roof down, and traction capability is very good even though asphalt grip is not.

And what about comfort? Well, despite wide, low-profile tyres (245/35-19), it is very good, thank you. The Magnetic Ride sports suspension has a lot to say about this. It incorporates special variable-hardness dampers (they work thanks to an internal fluid containing metallic particles and the application of magnetic fields to vary the resistance of the fluid passing from one chamber to another inside the damper) that achieve a good balance, controlling body movements perfectly without becoming a “board” when you want to cruise calmly.

20 Aniversario edition: is it worth it?

We come to one of the most delicate aspects, the one that affects your wallet. As a limited edition, the TT 20 Aniversario includes specific equipment, and that is objectively worth something. But it also adds a plus of exclusivity, which cannot be measured and will depend on what each person is willing to pay. And in this regard there are two things to know.

The first is how much the limited edition costs and what it includes. The Coupé is priced at 63,425, and the Roadster 20 Aniversario at 67,195. It includes special pearl-effect grey paint, Matrix OLED rear lights, 19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels with black brake calipers, bespoke exhaust outlets, “TT 20 years” badges and brown leather upholstery with contrasting stitching.

If we consider that a TT Roadster 45 TFSI quattro S tronic in Black Line trim costs about 4,000 euros less, I think that in a car like this, and at this price level, I would not think twice and would go for the 20 Aniversario edition.

Choosing would be harder between the TT Roadster 20 Aniversario with 245 CV… or a TTS Roadster with the 306 CV engine, which costs the same. And in terms of exclusivity, the more powerful and sportier TTS would win over the 20 Aniversario; it is certainly not a common car.

But if all this is out of your budget, and the TT Roadster from our test has tempted you, pay attention: you can have a TT Roadster 40 TFSI with 197 CV, S tronic gearbox and front-wheel drive from 46,000 euros, not counting possible discounts. And believe me, you do not need much more to enjoy a “future classic”.

Image gallery Audi TT Roadster