Audi Kills Its Iconic Sports Car
It’s hard to believe it has been 25 years since the Audi TT debuted. In that time it spawned three generations and sold from a few hundred to almost 5,000 in the U.S. some years. But 2023 is its last year, so Audi sends it off with a special Final Edition model. Auf Wiedersehen Audi TT.
When did the third-generation Audi TT debut?
Last year’s Heritage Edition was a sendoff for the five-cylinder TT RS. Audi only produced 50 examples for the U.S. But this portended the inevitable, the end of the TT is nigh.
This third-generation TT first appeared in 2014, so it has had a long run unto itself. It received a minor refresh in 2018 that included much of the same tech enjoyed by other Audi models. Only the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder direct-injection engine is available with 288 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Power transfers through a seven-speed automatic transmission to all four corners with the multi-link rear suspension and struts in front with the Quattro TTS TFSI option.
What comes with the 2023 Audi TT Final Edition?
The Final Edition TT is a trim package available on all 2023 models. It is distinguished outside by the Audi black styling pack, which means badging, door mirrors, exhaust tips, and spoilers get the black treatment. For the Roadster, this also includes black rollover hoops and a wind diffuser.
Inside, the optional leather coverings are now standard, enhanced with red piping. Steering wheels get the Alcantara treatment also with red stitching, and red piping is added to the floor mats.
How much is the Audi TT Final Edition?
A TT coupe starts at $52,200, with the Roadster bumping that by $4,100. Going with the Quattro TTS upgrade adds another $8,700. Final Edition models will begin to reach markets in April.
Though the TT you know and love will be gone after this year, the TT name will live on. In 2024 it becomes an all-electric four-door sedan with fastback styling. Loosely based on Audi’s Urbansphere concept, from spy shots, it appears to be a smaller, lifted e-tron GT.
“We want to add some very emotional cars to our portfolio,” Audi’s Oliver Hoffman told the UK’s AutoExpress. “And we have some really good concepts. But a direct follower of the TT is not the answer. We can’t just say, ‘We’ll do the TT in an electric way.’
What will the 2024 TT be like?
“We’re working hard on this concept and I’m really happy to work with (Audi CEO) Markus Duesmann. We’re pushing hard and hopefully, we can surprise with it.” Hoffman notes that there was no market for the TT when it debuted in 1998.
The 2024 TT will ride on Volkswagen’s Scalable Systems EV Platform. With the e-tron GT achieving right at the 300-mile range, we expect the TT to go beyond that. Though loyal TT enthusiasts might not like this direction, sports cars are going the way of the dodo bird. Their low numbers make it harder for the bean counters to justify the expense.
