2016 Audi TT Test Drive

The Audi TT(with Android Car Gps) has been a style icon ever since it debuted at the turn of the last century with its pre-WWII, Bauhaus-inspired body, but it’s taken a while to collect the substance to really back it up. As good as the original looked, it was essentially a souped-up VW New Beetle in disguise, and it pretty much drove like one. Regardless, it was a sales success and a triumph of form over function. That car was so fashion-forward that even aerodynamics took a backseat to its design. It was unstable at high speeds, and after several crashes in the hands of customers, Audi had to cave and add an unsightly spoiler to its perfectly curved posterior to keep it planted to the road. Things changed some when the second-generation TT came around. Its shape was more modern than retro, and it came perched atop a fresh chassis more befitting of something that’s supposed to be a sports car. Nevertheless, it had deployable spoiler that popped out only when necessary, preserving the TT’s clean lines in the parking lot. Now there’s an all new TT for 2016, available as either a coupe or the roadster I tested. And while it’s the sleekest, most sharply-dressed TT yet, you have to get under its skin to really appreciate it. The TT is now built on VW Group’s cutting-edge MQB modular platform, which also underpins the latest Audi A3. This is a good thing, as that sedan is one of the best compact cars on sale today. In the engine bay you’ll find the A3’s 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, which comes with Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system standard, and snappy six-speed dual clutch automatic. A manual transmission is not available in the United States, and neither is the diesel engine that will be offered elsewhere. (Audi didn’t plan on sending the diesel here, anyway, but don’t hold your breath that it’ll change its mind now.) What about install Car DVD? Despite its outward appearance, the TT is as roomy as two-seat convertibles get and feels even more spacious than it is. Perhaps that’s because it’s missing a few parts. Well, they’re not missing, just cleverly hidden. The climate controls? They’re built into the centers of the circular vents. Meanwhile, the infotainment system is hidden in plain view. Instead of a centrally-mounted display, Audi has turned the instrument cluster in front of the driver into what it calls a Virtual Cockpit. The 12.3-inch wide screen can adjust the size of the gauges and what’s between them to bring up various menus and maps. If installing an Android Car Stereo in your car, that would be great!