Spy Shots: Audi Gives 2015 TT Coupe the Winter Exam

After showing the next TT's interior at the CES show in Las Vegas last week and a conceptual crossover version of the car with the Allroad Shooting Brake moniker at this week's Detroit Auto Show, Audi officials also confirmed the venue and date for the unveiling of the coupe: the Geneva Motor Show this March.

That doesn't mean the new TT is completely ready, as Ingolstadt engineers continue to test prototypes on a variety of roads, conditions and countries.

There's a lot going on with the camouflage on this tester spied in Northern Europe, but combined with the knowledge we obtained from the Allroad Shooting Brake, we can safely say that the new TT will evolve the current model's styling theme adding more aggressive and manlier, if you will, lines and details to the familiar shape.

We've already seen the pre-production interior of the TT, so there's no questions there, with Audi's more minimalistic and futuristic approach to ergonomics and the gigantic 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster that also incorporates the MMI infotainment display making up the highlights.

As a vehicle based on the VW Group's (lighter) MQB platform, the powertrain lineup will be similar to other brand models, with the exception of the five-cylinder RS version that will follow later on.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS

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Audi TT to Debut at Geneva Show, May Spawn Crossover Version Inspired by Detroit Concept

Audi will reveal the new TT at the Geneva Motor Show in March and the model will go on sale later this year, Audi technical chief Ulrich Hackenberg said at the Detroit Auto Show.

Hackenberg confirmed that the production Audi TT Coupe will closely follow the design of the Allroad Shooting Brake concept unveiled in Detroit. Furthermore, the executive said there is potential in the future for a TT crossover model very similar to the concept.

“There is a trend for crossovers, shooting brakes and Allroad models, and we combined the TT with these concepts,” Hackenberg was quoted as saying by Autocar. “The TT has more potential now than in its history. It can be different concepts and segments. A more rugged TT definitely has potential, yes,” the executive added.

The Allroad Shooting Brake is 4,200mm (165 in) long, 1,850mm (73 in) wide and 1,410mm (55.5 in) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,510mm (99 in), which make it roughly the same size as a TT – minus the extra millimeters of height. Audi says the study combines visual elements of future sports car models (the TT) with the Allroad concept and shooting brake car body form.

The Audi Allroad Shooting Brake concept features a hybrid powertrain producing a total of 402 hp (408PS) and 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque. The study can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standstill in 4.6 seconds and has an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h. Fuel economy is rated at 1.9 l/100 km (123.8 mpg US) according to the ECE standard. Total driving range is up to 820 km (509 miles).

By Dan Mihalascu

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Do You Think a TT Shooting Brake Crossover is a Good or a Bad Idea?

As with many automotive press releases these days, there's a lot of mumbo jumbo coming out of Audi about its new Allroad Shooting Brake Concept that's on display at the Detroit auto show, but it all boils down to this: this is a study for a shooting brake-bodied version of the next TT with a crossover flair.

If you remove the "Allroad" elements and swap the top for a swoopy coupe roofline, what's left is pretty much the new generation TT that will be released later this year.

The VW Group in general, has been toying around with the idea of a coupe or coupe-ish sporty crossover for quite some time now – the Audi Nanuk Quattro and Italdesign Parkour concepts are the most recent, though, both were far more extreme than the Allroad Shooting Brake seen here.

So, what would you say to a production variant closely based on this concept; is there any point to a vehicle like this?

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2015 Audi TT Coupe Rendered with Details from Allroad Shooting Brake Concept

The first thing we noticed about Audi's new 2014 Detroit motor show-bound Allroad Shooting Brake Concept upon seeing the press shots was how close the exterior and interior are to the upcoming, third generation TT.

Even though Audi didn't say it outright, the Germans did mention that the two-door crossover provides a “concrete look into the near future”.

We saw the production cabin of the next TT at the CES in Las Vegas last week and while we patiently wait for Audi to fully release the car at a major international auto show this year, Hungarian designer X-Tomi cooked up a quick render of what the coupe may look like, based on the knowledge we obtained from the Detroit concept.

Check it out below along with the official photo of the interior.

Story References: X-Tomi

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Official: Audi’s Allroad Shooting Brake Concept Features 402HP Hybrid Powertrain

Audi has officially lifted the veils off its Detroit Auto Show concept car, the Allroad Shooting Brake. While the carmaker hasn’t released additional photos to those featured in our earlier story, it has revealed full technical details about the car.

The crossover features a hybrid powertrain mated to an all-wheel-drive system, called the e-Tron Quattro. The hybrid system consists of a 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine producing 288 hp and 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque and two electric motors. A disc-shaped motor with 40kW (54 hp) and 270 Nm (199 lb-ft) is linked to the petrol engine via a decoupling clutch and is integrated in the six-speed e-S tronic gearbox.

The second electric motor is mounted on the rear axle and is separated from the drive unit. With a maximum power of 85kW (114hp) and 270 Nm (199 lb-ft) of torque, the motor supplies propulsive power at low and moderate vehicle speeds, as well as when the hybrid management system decides that all-wheel drive is necessary. Finally, an 8.8 kWh lithium-ion battery consisting of eight modules located just forward of the rear axle allows for 50 km (31 miles) of all-electric driving.

Thanks to a total system output of 402 hp (408PS) and 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque, the Audi Allroad Shooting Brake can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standstill in 4.6 seconds and has an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h. Fuel economy is rated at 1.9 l/100 km (123.8 mpg US) according to the ECE standard. Total driving range is up to 820 km (509 miles).

The Allroad Shooting Brake is 4,200mm (165 in) long, 1,850mm (73 in) wide and 1,410mm (55.5 in) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,510mm (99 in). Audi says the study combines visual elements of future sports car models (most likely the TT) with the Allroad concept and shooting brake car body form.

Another element that is relevant for future production Audis is the digital user interface, which will be featured in the 2015 Audi TT.

By Dan Mihalascu

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Take a Close Video Look at 2015 Audi TT's Cockpit from CES

While not a first in any way, as we've already seen production cars like the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Cadillac CTS boast all-digital and customizable instrument clusters, Audi was still able to draw the media's spotlights on its next generation TT's cabin at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas (January 7-10).

The sharp looking dashboard does away with many controls to reduce the clutter and (supposedly) improve ergonomics, but the main reason why it captured our attention is the 12.3-inch TFT that replaces not only the traditional instrument gauges, but the center console MMI infotainment screen as well.

If you're worried about the huge 3D navigation map seen in the press photos drawing your attention away from the road with its bright colors, the all-digital instrument panel allows the driver to switch between different modes, showing, for example, virtual gauges in a choice of sizes.

It's worth noting that the graphics on the TFT display are enabled through an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor chip.

The way the industry works, it's only a matter of time before fully-digital displays make their way down to more affordable mainstream models.

For now, take a video look at the 2015 Audi TT's dashboard in a selection of clips we found on YouTube from a number of sources including CNET and Autobild magazine.

VIDEO

Say Hello to the 2015 Audi TT's Interior with Fully Digital Instrument Cluster

Audi has dropped photos of a cutaway of the upcoming third-generation TT's interior that will be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas held from January 6 through 10, 2014.

No doubt, the first thing that captures your eyes on the new dashboard is the fully-digital instrument cluster sporting a huge 12.3-inch TFT screen that also replaces central MMI monitor.

According to the Germans, drivers can switch between two display modes, include a "classic" view in which the speedometer and rev counter are in the foreground, and an "infotainment" mode where the virtual instruments are smaller. Audi says that there's ample display space in the screen for functions such as the 3D navigation map.

It remains to be seen whether drivers will appreciate and get accustomed to the digital layout without being distracted from such a radically different display housed right in front of their eyes.

The overall design and feel of the dashboard isn't all-too different from the current TT, but it does look sleeker and sharper. The changes are mostly in the details as Audi focused on applying new generation of electronics and connectivity features, as well as minimizing clutter.

For example, the controls for the air conditioning are housed in the vents themselves, while the adjustment functions for seat heating, and for the temperature, direction and strength of the flow of air, are located in their axes, with small displays indicating the settings.

Audi says it has also made changes to the MMI control on the center console and the second control unit alongside the steering wheel to simplify the process of accessing options. The company added that in the near future, drivers will be able to use "just two rather than four buttons in the area surrounding the rotary pushbutton".

We don't get any photos of the exterior of the car, but recent spy shots have outlined the evolutionary changes to the body that sits atop VW's new and lighter MQB modular platform shared with many other models, including the Golf and A3. The new TT will be introduced later in 2014.

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