The Wheel Deal samples the quickest TT ever made.

Drive: 8/10

Equipped with Audi’s famed Quattro All-Wheel Drive system, the TTS Coupé offers supreme levels of lateral grip. Cornering is like rolling along a pair of rails and, no matter how hard you mash that throttle, you always feel in complete and utter control. Capable of flattering even the most ham-fisted Lewis wannabe, it’s by far the best driving TT on sale today. However, after you’ve blitzed along a mountain pass with the dexterity and aplomb of a Peter Solberg, you’ll find that it’s not, well, very exciting. Don’t get me wrong, the acceleration from the 195kW two-litre TFSI engine is awesome but you simply don’t get that on-the-edge involvement you’d enjoy behind the wheel of a rear-wheel drive Porsche Cayman or BMW Z4 M Coupé. Even with the traction control turned off. This aside, it’s very difficult to find fault with the rest of the TTS package. It’s phenomenal through the bends, effortlessly quick and, when you feel like taking things slow, a very good highway cruiser. And, like its bigger R8 brother, it also features Audi Magnetic Drive, which, by simply pressing a button mounted on the centre console, stiffens up the suspension system for even more focused handling. Best you reserve this for the very smoothest of tarmac, however, because it does make the ride exceptionally hard.

Exterior Design: 4/5

Coated in loud yellow paint and flanked by cool aluminium wing mirrors, our TTS certainly turned a few heads with its purposeful S-line body kit. Featuring, amongst other things, an aggressive new front spoiler, 18-inch alloys, a pair of dual exhaust pipes and a specially developed rear air-diffuser it gives the standard TT shape some real racecar kudos. Some of my friends and colleagues thought it was maybe a little too subtle, that it should exude a little more show to match the go but, personally, I think it works beautifully. Besides, Audi is saving the real aggression for the upcoming TTRS.

Interior Design: 3/5

The interior of the TTS is one of the sexiest in Audi’s lineup thanks to its sporty mix of aluminium inserts, nappa leather and Alcantara. The ice-white dials are a work of art too and, branded with TTS badges, really add to this model’s air of exclusivity. The front of the cabin is comfortably spacious with a lot of convenient storage binnacles but the rear is painfully cramped and only really of use to those who’ve had an unfortunate experience with a landmine. All-round visibility is commendable for such a sporty vehicle, which makes parking and general low-speed maneuvering an absolute cinch. Ergonomic, exceptionally well built and endowed with one of the finest seating positions I’ve ever experienced, the TTS Coupé is a joy to spend time in. However, it can become somewhat of a money trap, as the extras list is long and expensive. Satellite Navigation will set you back a cool twenty grand, that have-to-have Bose sound system almost another six, while the mandatory iPod preparation clocks in at just over two. A lot of people will want these features and that’ll send the TTS’s price soaring past the R600 000 mark and into Porsche Cayman territory.

Overall: 15/20

The Audi TTS is definitely one of the coolest coupés on the market today. Powerful, poised and well designed it’ll definitely appeal to those who’re looking for a sports car that’s easy to live with and, more importantly, easier to drive. However, the purists will probably want to spend their cash on the more entertaining, and similarly priced, offerings from Porsche, BMW and Lotus.

Audi TTS Coupé Fast Facts:

Price: R563 000

Engine: 1 984cc turbocharged straight four
Power: 195kW at 5 800rpm
Torque: 350Nm between 2 500 and 6 000rpm
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h in 5.6 seconds (claimed)
Top speed: 250 km/h (limited)
Fuel consumption: 8.2l/100km (claimed combined)
CO2: 194 g/km

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