The grille that set the car design world aflutter is gone, replaced by one similar to other Audis. Crisper lines lend a leaner appearance to the redesigned Audi TT, and it does weigh less.
Same iconic shape, but with less curvy curves and more angles. Earlier generations were rounder, especially in the nose. Note the grille shape.
Sweeping roof line restricts second-row head room. Are you reminded of a Nissan Z? Not a coincidence The rear quarter view hasn't changed as much. As elegant as ever. Spoiler pops up at speed.
No retro here. Ultra-modern, minimalist interior design. Very deep instrument panel. The previous car's interior had a small display in the center stack. Not suitable for 2016.
Real aluminum trim livens up what would otherwise be a coal bin. I personally like the minimalist, driver-centric controls, but the passenger could feel left out.
Early photographs included this view. It maximizes the nav map but the virtual gauges look silly. A steering wheel switch toggles to this more conventional layout. Better for driving, if not nav.
Audi designers cleverly located the HVAC and seat heater controls in the centers of the air vents. Optional S Sport seats are unusually comfortable and supportive. Loved them.
Very tight. My pre-teen fit. Yours might not. You can fit quite a load into the TT even without folding the rear seat.
The floor is flat. The cargo net only makes it look bowl-shaped in this photo. Plentiful cargo space with the rear seat folded. Many owners probably leave it this way.
The four-rings on the engine cover distinguish this 2.0T from that in the VW GTI. Audi has done little to make the 2.0T engine pretty without a cover. Quick, but not thrilling.
The current Audi TT's face includes far more angles, resembles that of other Audis. The additional edges continue down the body side. The current TT appears leaner and meaner.
Though edgier than before, the Audi TT's shape remains unusually clean, yet far from boring. The previous Audi TT was more round, with chunkier proportions. Also not rounded grille opening.
A Porsche 911 with more athletic proportions, thanks to an engine ahead of the axle. The BMW M2 appears handsome and muscular, but can't match the beauty of the othrers.
No other car has this profile. (Well, a few copycats sort of did, but they're gone.) The Audi TT's shape finishes even more cleanly than it starts. RS has fixed rear wing.
A radically clean interior. A single screen, as in the Tesla Model 3, but ahead of the driver. The interior of the previous TT was more traditional and less sophisticated.
Current Porsche interiors put a lot of visual emphasis (and switches) on the center console. It's a BMW interior. Busy instrument panel.
RS Design Package adds red trim rings to vents. Does the instrument panel have to be so deep? One display, in front of the driver. HVAC controls in vent hubs.
Somehow adding adjustability to the bolsters made them work less well for me. The Audi TT has a back seat, but headroom is in very short supply and legroom can be nonexistent.
Your groceries will likely fit with the seats up. Far more cargo space than competitors if you fold the nearly useless rear seats.
Behold, the carbon fiber engine cover included in the $6,000 Dynamic Plus Package. Now with an aluminum instead of an iron block, Audi's unique turbo five-cylinder kicks out 400 hp.