150 Audi TT 鈥?0 Years鈥?Editions Due On Sale In 2019
Audi has released a new special edition version of the TT. Limited to 999 examples globally, 150 of which are coming to the UK, the 鈥淭T 20 Years鈥?edition will be on sale in early 2019. UK prices are yet to be confirmed, but we expect them to be around 拢46,000. Audi鈥檚 turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine will be fitted to the special edition models in two states of tune. The 40 TFSI will have 194bhp and 320Nm of torque, while the 45 TFSI will have 242bhp and 370Nm of torque. 0-62mph figures stand at 6.6 seconds for the former with the latter at 5.9 seconds. As standard, both engines will be mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission, with the 45 TFSI allowing the option of a manual. Audi鈥檚 Quattro all-wheel-drive system will also be available for the 45 TFSI, but only with the seven-speed gearbox. The interior of the Audi TT 20 Years edition will pay homage to the 1995 Audi TTS Roadster Concept, with the seats, door panels and centre console trimmed in moccasin brown Nappa leather. There will also be unique badging and a serial number sewn into the steering wheel and gear knob. Available in either coupe or roadster guise, the 鈥淭T 20 Years鈥?edition will be treated to exterior tweaks including 19-inch alloy wheels, an updated front bumper, new exhaust tips and Matrix OLED headlights. Audi鈥檚 S-Line package is offered as an optional extra, and outfits the special edition model with a more aggressive body kit, sports seats and a 10mm drop in ride-height.
There is a big difference between what I call Generic Luxury Sedan Fast鈥攜ou know, all flat turbo torque, no drama, no excitement鈥攁nd what the Panamera Turbo can do, which is deliver acceleration that is downright violent at times. Zero to 60 mph happens in about three seconds, according to most instrumented tests I checked, and I can promise you it feels that fast. It鈥檚 enough to put this wagon in the supercar acceleration range. While it can send 100 percent of torque to the front or rear axle as needed, the all-wheel drive is rear-biased, and here it feels under control鈥攁s long as you鈥檙e paying attention. It is not to be underestimated. It sounds good, too. Under hard acceleration you get a thrumming V8 baritone in the cabin and a crackling, popping exhaust note, which is louder in the car鈥檚 sport modes. The earnest sensation of speed was a nice surprise and so was the handling. The Panamera is a big, long car, about three inches longer and three inches wider than the current BMW 5 Series.
Yet it never drives big. It felt agile, maneuverable through New York City, and playful on twisty roads. And Porsche鈥檚 finally got its electric steering racks to be among the best in the game right now, super direct and with a good amount of feel. Then there鈥檚 the Panamera Turbo鈥檚 greatest party trick: Sport Response. When equipped with the Sport Chrono package鈥攚hich you will also want, sorry! 鈥攖here鈥檚 a little button on the sport mode selector stalk jutting out from the steering wheel column. Hit that button for the FUN TIMES to start. When it engages, you get 20 seconds of maximum engine and gearbox response, complete with a countdown clock. It鈥檚 like push-to-pass in F1, and it gives you a crazy extra boost you鈥檒l need to blast past slower moving cars on the track, or more likely, to catch the light before it goes red. It鈥檚 almost like your special attack in an old side-scroller beat 鈥榚m up game. It鈥檚 hilarious and wonderful.
Every passenger I showed this feature to would nearly pass out in a fit of giggles. Sport Response is like making 11 the highest setting on the amp. Does it have to be that way? Of course not, but it鈥檚 so damned fun to use, you鈥檒l wonder why every car doesn鈥檛 have this. Of course, there鈥檚 more to the Panamera than just borderline irresponsible displays of speed and noise. It鈥檚 also comfortable and livable, and makes for an excellent daily. The seats aren鈥檛 too aggressive, the rear headroom is good, and the hatch area鈥攚hile not voluminous, as we鈥檒l discuss in a bit鈥攊s pretty great for carrying stuff. You could easily drive the Panamera Turbo like a reasonable, normal human and never even taste its incredible performance. The PDK鈥檚 shifts are rapid-fire quick in manual mode but the gearbox is plenty smooth and fast in automatic mode. As you鈥檇 expect from a modern luxury car, there鈥檚 a ton of settings and menus and buttons and a touch screen to navigate. It鈥檚 all pretty straightforward.
I found it a lot easier to figure out than your average BMW or Mercedes these days. The interior is definitely cleaner and more performance-focused than those cars too. I like the piano black center console, and better yet, I like that there are actual buttons and switches here. Power. Performance. Noises. Scaring the hell out of people. Feeling like a true Porsche, and not just some rebadged Audi, which is a legitimate risk with all of this Volkswagen Group platform and parts sharing. More than anything else, I felt this car takes the things that modern enthusiasts gripe about a lot鈥攖urbos, electric steering, AWD, complexity, drive modes, menus, etc.鈥攁nd it just makes it all work exceedingly well in the service of performance. It just works, and in a way that gives the car character to back up its numbers. Maybe this seems like a minor gripe, but I hated the air vents.