ANYONE who fancies themselves as an Audi TT owner had best book a test drive asap, because Audi's venerable coupé is finally about to reach the end of its road.
Launched way back in 1998 and currently in its third generation of production, the TT is set to become extinct this year. However, the Germans are sending their super successful soap bar-styled sports car out on a high note.
On sale from next month and priced from £41,910, the Audi TT Final Edition will, as ever, be available as either a coupé or rag-top roadster.
"What does that Final Edition badge mean?", you might ask. Well, first of all you should know that Audi are also streamlining the TT range for the car's final year – the luxurious Vorsprung edition seems to have been dropped, for example. There will now be only six trim levels available, with the new Final Editions slotting into the range between the Black Edition (priced from £39,740) and the performance-orientated RS models (from £58,165). Choice has now been reduced to S Line, Black Edition, Final Edition, S Final Edition, RS and RS Sport Edition.
TT Final Editions get a none-more-black styling pack with a black Audi logo on a black grille and black badging around the back, plus black door mirrors, black exhaust pipes and a black rear spoiler. Roadsters even get black roll-over bars and a black wind diffuser.
Tinted privacy glass (on the coupé only) completes this 'sports stealth' look, with contrasting red brake callipers peeping out from behind 20-inch matt grey diamond cut alloy wheels. However, TT S Final Editions also get their own special seven-spoke anthracite black alloys with gloss turned finish.
Sadly, you can't actually complete this 'murdered out' look with black paint, at least not without incurring extra cost: TT Final Edition buyers must choose between Tango Red, Glacier White and Chronos Grey metallic paint as standard.
Inside, TT Final Editions get an extended leather pack with extra leather trim on the armrests, door pulls and centre console, a sporty Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel with red stitching and racing-style ‘12 O'Clock’ marker, plus Tango red inserts on the Alcantara-trimmed seats, air vents and centre console (coupé only). Even the floor mats get a touch of colour courtesy of red piping.
Audi's Technology Pack is fitted as standard on TT Final Editions, adding MMI Navigation Plus with MMI Touch and Audi Connect Infotainment Services which allows owners to access live information like local fuel prices and the weather forecast while on the go.
TT S Final Edition cars also get a Comfort & Sound Pack featuring a Bang & Olufsen sound system, a reversing camera with all-round parking sensors and keyless entry.
There are three engine options available for the Final Editions, all based on the same four-cylinder two-litre turbo petrol lump: choose from the 40 TFSI (194hp) or the 45 TFSI (242hp), the latter also available with quattro all-wheel drive, while Final Edition TT S cars get an engine that's been sports-tuned to 316hp and which comes with quattro all-wheel drive as standard.
It seems incredible that the Audi TT first went on sale 25 years ago, where it was immediately a huge hit in Ireland and Britain – and it's still pretty popular even in today's vastly different modern motoring marketplace. Last year, 2,672 TTs were sold in the UK, representing a third of global sales for the car.
To be honest, I wasn't really a fan of the TT when it first appeared, but its Peter Schreyer-designed styling and proportions have definitely aged incredibly well as other cars on the road have become increasingly big and bulky over the past quarter of a century, allegedly in the name of crash safety – yet the TT has managed to retain a four-star Euro NCAP rating since 2003 while retaining its dainty demeanour.
Having driven a 500hp TT RS during a worryingly damp test day a couple of years ago (and just about lived to tell the tale) I also now know what all the fuss is about in terms of its performance.
"Few models have lasted the test of time as well as the Audi TT," comments Andrew Doyle, director Audi UK.
"The crisp, Bauhaus-inspired lines of the sports coupé look as fresh today as they did back in 1998 and to mark the model's incredible success here in the UK our Final Edition combines everything our customers love about this iconic model."
First deliveries of the Final Edition are expected in April 2023. In the meantime, those without £40k burning a hole in their pocket could do worse than checking out the second-hand market.
According to the latest Practical Classics price guide, you should expect to pay just over £5k for a mint condition example of a first-generation Audi TT (1998 to 2006) – which is an absolute steal, frankly.
Consider it an investment, because with TT production coming to an end, the prices of good ones from any era aren't going anywhere but up from now on.
AUDI TT FINAL EDITION: PRICE GUIDE
- TT Final Edition 40 TFSI coupé £41,910
- TT Final Edition 40 TFSI roadster £43,660
- TT Final Edition 45 TFSI quattro coupé £46,525
- TT Final Edition 45 TFSI quattro roadster £48,275
- TT S Final Edition coupe £54,685
- TT S Final Edition roadster £56,435
