When the pill bug on four wheels known as the Audi TT entered its second generation for 2008, buyers interested in the 200-hp turbocharged four-cylinder had to settle for front-wheel drive only. In a comparison test of $35K sport coupes that year, the second-gen TT finished in second place behind a Mazda RX-8 and ahead of a Nissan 350Z and a Ford Mustang Shelby GT. Our gripes were few, but we did place some of the blame on the TT’s nose-heavy dynamics, front tires that have to fight for grip, and its relatively high price. Despite its aluminum-intensive structure (Audi claims the lightweight alloy makes up nearly 70 percent of the car), we callously called it a Volkswagen GTI wrapped in a sexy skin.
Until 2009, getting Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system in the new TT required stepping up to the pricier (by roughly $5000), and heavier, 250-hp 3.2-liter V-6. According to our testing, a six-speed manual TT 3.2 Quattro hit 60 mph in 6.1 seconds, which is a tenth slower than the 2.0T front-driver fitted with the S tronic dual-clutch automated manual. Quarter-mile times were nearly the same, with the six-cylinder squeezing out a 14.5-second run at 97 mph versus the four-cylinder’s 14.6 at 97. We enjoyed the exhaust note of the narrow-angle V-6 and its smooth characteristics, but its price premium, especially considering the identical performance numbers, was difficult to justify. What we really wanted was a TT with all-wheel drive and the fuel efficient 2.0-liter turbo-four.
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