Audi TT News

Huge recall program set to start as soon as this month, to be completed by December 2016.

Once again controversy has greeted the latest round of independent car crash testing

The Mazda CX-3 is in but the Honda HR-V and Renault Captur are out.The Audi TT is in but the Holden Cascada is out.That's my assessment of the field so far as we search for the best new car of 2015.Good is still good, but it's not good enough when the biggest prize in Australian motoring is on the line.Even a car as initially impressive as the Land Rover Discovery Sport is marked down heavily on value when you consider it as a CarsGuide Car of the Year contender.It's the same for the Ford Mondeo, which looks good, is packed to the hilt with technology but has lost its mojo on the open road.Similarly the Ford Focus ST, which is a great drive, is too narrow in its appeal.The CarsGuide team has already driven more than two dozen good cars in the opening half of the year and it's time to see what's looking good for a spot for the top-10 run-off in December.There are some surprising failures and the line-up could change dramatically with a rush of impressive newcomers booked for the second half but this is how the COTY 2015 contenders are shaping up.The new German coupe is everything the TT always could — and should — have been.It's had a muscle-car makeover that covers a broad spectrum from the sharper body shape to the driving dynamics and cabin space.All right, it should have a standard rear-vew camera, but that omission is offset by gains in other areas that count for a performance car.And the interior, with its integrated display screen in front of the steering wheel, is top-notch.This one is a slow burn because it's not like previous BMWs.For a start, it has front-wheel drive. And it puts family first.It's more like the i3 electric car than a 3 Series which is a good thing for people who put comfort and space and quality ahead of the Ultimate Driving Machine.It might be a clunky in the front suspension but it's classier than we expected and the flexible cabin, which will later include a third row of seats, is up there with the best.Cars as good as the Sorento should allow Kia to make the final breakthrough in Australia.Look beyond the country's longest warranty and you find a family seven-seater that's good-looking, practical and nice to drive.It could do with more steering feel but that's a very minor thing for people who need a seven-seater.Inside, the cheap and cheerful Kias of a decade ago are a distant memory, replaced by quality finishes, soft surfaces and great attention to detail.The best of the new-age mini SUVs wins a spot by trumping rivals including the HR-V and Captur, something it achieves with quality, refinement and a class-leading starting price.It's never going to star for a family with such a small boot but it's developed from the Mazda2 that starred in last year's COTY run-off.It looks good, drives well and works for twentysomethings who crave an SUV, delivering the elevated seating position without being too bulky.The new family sedan is a welcome return to form for a company that went backwards during the global financial crisis.Honda and Mitsubishi are still recovering but Subaru is back to what it does best with a quiet, comfortable, refined and well-priced car for Australian families. It also maintains Subaru's impressive reputation for cutting-edge safety.As always, it comes with all-wheel drive and provides the platform for the equally impressive Outback.The back end of 2015 will bring a number of impressive newcomers, from the baby Skoda Fabia through to the muscular Ford Mustang, bigger Hyundai Tucson and youthful Jeep Renegade.For now, the best of the bunch looks like this:This car could be as impressive, in its own SUV style, as the Volkswagen Golf Mk7. It's first with the mechanical package that will go under several VW Group arrivals, including the next Porsche Cayenne and Bentley Bentayga. So we're expecting class leading comfort, quality and a great family drive.If the born-again Mustang is half as good as the hype it will be a serious COTY contender. Early drives in the US point to best-yet dynamics for the first 'Stang with factory right-hand drive. There is even a four-cylinder EcoBoost engine. More than 2000 Australians are paid-up and waiting for their car to arrive, sometime in November.This one needs to be more than good to challenge the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class. But Jaguar learned bitter lessons from its X-Type, which was no more than a re-bodied Ford Mondeo, and is pushing hard with an XE that gets everything from an aluminium backbone to new-age engines. In Australia, the key will be in the pricing and equipment.The world's favourite sports car is odds-on for a COTY spot. It's been completely reworked for 2015 despite a body that could only be an MX-5. It's promising a much-needed improvement in cabin space and overall refinement, as well as Skyactiv engine technology that already works in Mazda's mainstream models. Add the lightweight body and sharp pricing. There is already a queue for early deliveries.The all-new Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara for 2015 are good but not great, which leaves the Ranger to challenge the all-new Toyota HiLux for the benchmark in utes. This midlife update is more than just a mild makeover. It has new panels, tweaked driving dynamics and on the flagship model it has technology that would make a German SUV blush.More than just a truck, the HiLux has been Australia's favourite ute for more than a generation, not just because it scores with miners but because it can be most things to most people. The new HiLux promises everything from a new turbo diesel to car-like quality and refinement.It's been a very long time since the first XC90, which has given Volvo — after its change from a Ford subsidiary to Chinese ownership — plenty of time to develop a benchmark upscale SUV. Extensive work on everything from cabin comfort and quality to best-in-class safety technology — wrapped in a good-looking new bodywork — should make the XC90 something special and a '15 standout.Alfa Romeo 4C - The Italian version of a Lotus Elise is a looker and a goer, but too costly.Ford Mondeo - Not as good as the previous car, although cabin space is excellent.Holden Cascada - Most impressive of the new Euro Holdens, good but not great.Hyundai Sonata - Not up to the standard of Hyundai's other newcomers, although value is good.Renault Captur - Funky bodywork makes big promises but the undersized engine cannot deliver.Toyota Camry - A top car by any measure but not enough change for a COTY run.

There will be a new number one in Australian prestige motoring by 2020 if Audi can complete an ambitious plan to overhaul BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Australians like power and are prepared to pay for it.

Audi has confirmed that the new TT sports coupe will be priced from $71,950 when it launches in Australia in the coming weeks.Pricing for the rest of the TT lineup will have to wait until the car’s local launch, but information regarding the entry coupe’s engine specs and standard features have been revealed.The new entry price is $2600 more than the model it replaces, but the new entry TT will step up from the 118kW/250Nm 1.8-litre turbo petrol engine to the 169kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol four cylinder.Comparing the existing 2.0-litre model with the new third-generation reveals that the newcomer is actually around $3500 less expensive and 14kW more powerful.Unlike the outgoing model, the new Audi TT will be offered with a manual transmission, while an S-Tronic seven-speed dual-clutch automatic will also be offered – most likely as an optional extra.A front-wheel drive setup is standard while the all-paw Quattro system will be optionally available and helps the TT coupe hit 100km/h in 5.3 seconds with the S-Tronic transmission.The new model will be available in two different trim levels – Sport and S-Line -, and the ‘Audi virtual cockpit’ digitally configurable instrument display will be standard on both, along with satnav, electric seats with leather and Alcantara upholstery and convenience keys.Matrix LED headlights which can electronically shine the car’s high-beam lights away from oncoming drivers will be available as an optional extra, while alloy wheels measuring up to 20 inches will also be offered.Pricing and local specs for the convertible TT roadster variants and range-topping 228kW TTS performer are yet to be confirmed.

In a year when the overall car market shrank, all but a handful of prestige brands increased sales. Buyers don't just want a good car; they want others to see they have one, helping everyone from Maserati to Mercedes-Benz post gains.The trend is accelerating and a steady stream of new models in 2015 only adds to the impetus. CarsGuide looks at what's in store for the premium players this year.It isn't hard to foresee the popularity of the 4C two-seat coupe when it hits showrooms next month. This baby supercar uses a carbon-fibre tub, mid-engine layout and minimalist interior to present a modern incarnation of a stripped-down racer. Pricing will be $80,000-$100,000. The soft-top Spider is due in October. The Alfa Giulietta also gets an update.A steady new model rollout starts in February with the arrival of the TT coupe for just under $80,000. It will be joined by the soft-top roadster midyear and the TT S performance model in August or September. The plug-in petrol-electric A3 e-tron five-door hatch is due in May with an expected price of $60,000, with the Q7 large SUV due late in the year. Updates or variants include the A6/A7, RS6/RS7, A1, RS3 and Q3/RSQ3.New metal is in short supply at the British brand but two models will join the line-up, starting with the Vantage S Roadster at a shade under $420,000. If that isn't exclusive enough, consider the $500,000 Vanquish Carbon using the same V12 but with eight forward ratios in place of the Vantage's seven.BENTLEYChauffeurs will going cap-in-hand to buyers of the Mulsanne Speed for the chance to steer the best Bentley ever. A twin-turbo V8 cranks out 1100Nm - only the Bugatti Veyron can torque itself up as a more powerful production model - to push the 2.7-tonne limo into triple figures in 4.9 seconds. Pricing has yet to be set but if you have to ask, you can't afford it.There's a lot of product in the pipeline this year but only one all-new car. The X1 will switch to front-wheel drive when the second-generation model arrives in the third quarter. The X1 will look more mini-SUV than compact wagon, aligning it with the X3 and X5. Top-end versions will be all-wheel drive. Updates and new variants include the 2 Series convertible, X5M/X6M, 6 Series/X6, 3 Series, X4 M40i and X5 e-Drive.The 458 range has a Speciale A due next month. The 499 examples of the alloy hardtop model are already sold, meaning the $635,000 two-seater is likely to be a smart investment. Keep an eye on the classifieds.The struggle to be a serious prestige player continues for Infiniti with a major model overhaul due in 2016. A refreshed Q70 flagship is due midyear with a nip-and-tuck for the bumpers, updated interior trim and more safety software.The transition from niche player to prestige powerhouse is predicated on the XE sedan being a genuine rival for the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and BMW C-Class. Specs indicate the engines are up to the job, so it comes down to how well it can be priced in Australia. There will be updates for the F-Type coupe and convertible and XF sedan.Styling that echoes the Evoque and a premium interior mark the Discovery Sport, debuting in May. Essentially a replacement for the Freelander, the Sport is a serious off-roader with 600mm wading depth and four-wheel drive. Also expect a Range Rover Sport SVR, Range Rover hybrid and updated Evoque.A compact performance sedan, the RC F will cost $133,500, making it a 'budget' alternative to the Germans. The naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 isn't quite on par with the Euro competition but neither is the price. The GS F mid-sized sedan will use the same engine and is due later in the year, price undisclosed. The NX200 will get a new turbo engine.No new news is still good news for Lotus aspirants. An automatic Exige - the brand's first self-shifter - is due in the second quarter. Expect to pay around $9000 for the clutch-less version, putting the price above $135,000. An updated Evora should land late with less weight and improved interior.An 'affordable' McLaren is due late in the year with an entry level Sport model priced at more than $300,000. That puts it in the higher echelons of Porsche 911 territory - but still well below typical McLaren prices.Australia's top-selling prestige brand rolls out a range of new toys this year to expand its appeal. The action starts with the AMG GT and C63 AMG in the second quarter, both using a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8. Skip ahead to Q3 and there's the new GLE (formerly known as the ML) and GLE coupe SUVs, followed by the CLA Shooting Brake and the much-needed GLC compact SUV. Other updates or variants include the S63 coupe, CLS, B-Class and S500 coupe.The action starts with an entry-level five-door Mini Cooper One at $25,600 in February. It is powered by a three-cylinder engine with 75kW/180Nm. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the John Cooper Works three-door hatch, which will be the Mini with the most mumbo ever when it arrives midyear at an estimated $48,000.There's plenty to whet the appetite for performance enthusiasts, even if it is all clad in existing bodywork. The base V6 and performance GTS Cayenne SUV models are due next month, followed by the Turbo S midyear. An update of the 911 should make it before Christmas and Santa may deliver the new GT4 Cayman at the same time.The XC90 large SUV is due midyear with prices starting from about $90,000. A more affordable alternative will be the V60 Cross Country due late in the year from $65,000. The elevated version of the V60 wagon will be sold in FWD and AWD guise.

Future five-door Audi TT hinted with Sportback Paris concept.Audi is showcasing a new 5-door TT Sportback concept at this week’s Paris motor show, suggesting a possible new direction for the iconic model.If green-lit for production, a TT Sportback would be the first TT to come with more than two-doors in the model’s 16-year, three-generation history.For now, the TT Sportback concept builds on the current third-generation hardtop’s design, but with an elongated body, extra pair of doors and a unique rear end with more angular detailing.The front end is closer to the existing TT and TTS models, but with a unique bumper design and it rolls on unique 21 inch alloys.The interior is also largely unchanged from the TT coupe, save for a more spacious 2+2 seating arrangement. Audi says the TT Sportback concept will hold four people comfortably, although the sloping roofline suggests the rear occupants wouldn’t want to be too tall.The TT Sportback concept’s longer body is matched by a 120mm wheelbase extension, bringing it in line with the TT’s A3 Sportback and sedan platform cousins.The TT Sportback concept's 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine has been uprated to produce 294kW and 450Nm, placing it in the realm of the 309kW TT quattro sport concept shown in Geneva earlier this year. The most powerful TT currently in production is the (European-spec) 228kW TTS.The Sportback's power is put to the ground through all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic automatic transmission, with a claimed fuel consumption of 7.0L/100km.

Audi releases the first pics of the new TT Roadster ahead of Paris debut.The new 2015 third-generation Audi TT Roadster has been revealed after the hardtop version was launched internationally earlier this month.The soft-top TT is styled identically to its coupe sibling, with the exception of the obvious lack of a solid roof panel and hatchback-style bootlid.That means the TT Roadster scores the same chiselled styling that gives the coupe a more aggressive appearance than any of its softly styled predecessors.New Roadster buyers also get the same funky interior design as the coupe, equipped with a full 12.3-inch TFT digital instrument cluster similar to that of the new Lamborghini Huracan.However, the drop-top is strictly a two-seater while the hardtop features an additional pair of rear seats suitable for smaller passengers or luggage.The fabric roof can be raised or lowered in ten seconds at speeds of up to 50km/h and weighs 39kg - or around 3kg less than the one fitted to the outgoing TT Roadster.Audi claims the new soft-top features improved sound deadening and thermal insulation compared to that of the second-gen TT Roadster, and promises greater passenger comfort and refinement than before.Luggage space for the new Roadster is 280-litres regardless of whether the roof is up or down as the fabric roof folds into its own separate compartment behind the seats.The entry level TT Roadster is powered by a 135kW/380Nm 2.0-litre diesel four-pot capable of 4.5L/100km combined.Stepping up to the 169kW/370Nm 2.0-litre petrol model introduces the option of Quattro all-wheel drive, which isn't available on the base model. The 2.0 TFSI models offer fuel consumption as low a 6.1L/100km combined.The range-topping TTS Roadster is powered by a 228kW/380Nm 2.0-litre turbo four-pot and can sprint to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds – two tenths slower than the hardtop TTS.However, it is likely we'll see a slightly detuned 210kW version of the TTS Roadster due to Australia's extreme weather conditions.The new Roadster will be offered internationally with a standard 6-speed manual gearbox and optional 6-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic, though local specifications are yet to be confirmed. The current TT Roadster is available only in automatic guise in Australia.The all-wheel drive system fitted to the new TT is able to send up to 100 per cent of the engine's torque to either axle, and Audi even claims 'controlled drifts' are possible as more power is sent to the rear during sporty driving.The new Roadster weighs 1320kg dry with a manual transmission and 2.0-litre petrol motor, making the new model slightly lighter than its predecessor, despite swapping the old 1.8-litre engine for a larger 2.0-litre and growing in size.Like the TT coupe, the Roadster now rides on the VW Group's MQB chassis architecture, also used by the A3 sedan and hatch range as well as the MK7 Volkswagen Golf.Audi's new TT Roadster will make its public debut at the Paris motor show next week, before going on sale locally in the second half of 2015.

Australia's extreme climate means Audi's next TTS will cop a cold shower.A power cut is almost certain for Australian versions of the Audi TTS. TT technical project manager Markus Niewart tells Carsguide at the international launch of the third-generation cars that our climate is to blame."The TTS is likely to lose power," he says of the distinctive 2+2-seat sports car. 'You are a hot country and we need to protect the engine." The move mirrors the decision to restrict outputs of the S3 small sedan for the local market. The high-performance car packs 221kW in Europe but here it is limited to 206kW.A similar trim is likely to prune the TTS's 228kW to about 210kW. Niewart is unapologetic, noting such policies apply to any country with climate extremes.On a positive note, he confirms a roadster version of the TT will be shown at Paris and the insane TTRS will launch in 2016, fitted with an overhauled version of the 265kW/465Nm five-cylinder turbo that powered the last generation.Alongside the arrival of a new A4 sedan, the TTRS will cap a year in which Audi Australia expects to overtake BMW as the country's second biggest prestige car brand.Sales of just on 12,700 so far this year put Audi only 2000 vehicles behind BMW and the four-ringed marque has substantially more momentum in terms of sales growth over the past two years.Audi Australia spokeswoman Anna Burgdorf says the brand would like to be 'nipping at the heels" of its German rival within two years."We're not in the market to be No.3 (prestige brand) forever … a new volume product like the A4 will certainly help," she says.Audi's baby SUV, the Q1, is also expected in 2016, to give the marque a much-needed player in the light SUV ranks."That's a growing segment and it's one we'd like to be involved in," Burgdorf says.In the short term, facelifted versions of the A6 mid-sized sedan and its A7 Sportback sibling will arrive next year, along with a totally revised version of the Q7, Audi's large SUV.