Having seen the original concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Fair in the mid-1990s, it came as a most pleasant surprise to find the TT is still very much on the front burner and has now been transmuted into one of the most awesome road cars of the 21st century (the current Quattro reaches 100 km/h in only 4.6 seconds).

Marcel Loporto and your scribe spent quite some time visually examining every panel of the car, frankly marvelling at the degree of perfection, not a blemish or panel even remotely out of position.

The whole structure was as near perfect as one could possibly hope for and that includes looking at vehicles costing many times the price of the TT.

Lights, of course, play an interesting part, especially in places like Malta where the main roads are remarkably well lit, leaving important link roads in darkness, with drivers blinded by many approaching vehicles, many on full beam.

The TT would make short shrift of anyone without the manners to dip their lights, possibly teaching a painful lesson in the use of electrics.

The interior was just as well put together. The seats were a revelation with standard S sport seats which have moulded head restraints and S emblem. Optionally electrically and pneumatically adjusted, there are bolsters in the side of the seats and backrest to provide fantastic lateral support even when blasting this lovely vehicle towards its upper limits.

The driver has a rather splendid leather bound wheel with ‘S’ contrasting stitching. In fact, there is no excuse to hold the wheel in anything other than the approved position. The TT has a most unusual virtual cockpit. Instead of actual dials, the virtual display shows either classic round dials or a progressive set-up, changed using the Sport TT leather steering wheel multifunction switch and, as expected, with the super six-speed automatic, there are paddles for an enthusiastic driver to change gear at whim.

Rear seats appear to be somewhat of a gesture. However, it would be possible to get a couple of children in the back under certain circumstances. The total driving experience is super with the handling of a thoroughbred racehorse.

Hit the fast pedal hard and the gears shift down in the blink of an eye and 100k comes up so fast [5.9 seconds] that it’s just as well that the TT has a great mass of very positive safety features to help keep enthusiastic drivers safe on our very uncertain roads.

Not surprisingly, the brakes are incredibly powerful and respond most satisfyingly to gentle application. For fairly obvious reasons, we put the car through as much of a test as we could, bearing in mind that our local speed limits simply fail to impress accomplished drivers of superbly engineered cars.

The TT is so masterly, even on uncertain surfaces (not potholed roads but with varying degrees of undulations) that it is simply unfazed at decent speeds where most cars would balk at the indignity of being driven fast along the same stretch.

This front wheel driven supercar looks at first as if it may respond badly to extensive, in-town or village motoring, so we put it to the test. The results were entirely positive and even after 20 minutes of very slow speed motoring, it behaved absolutely faultlessly.

The progressive steering made life easy, especially at low speeds in narrow roads and when parking or generally messing about. Because that’s when the electro-mechanical ‘magic’ comes to the fore.

The front-wheel drive distributes the drive force to the front wheels depending on the road conditions with Electronic Differential Lock EDL and wheel selective torque steering through intervention of the brake system on both driven wheels. This then works with Anti Slip Regulation ASR and ESC with brake assist.

Obviously, the car has a Stop/Start function and keyless starting, with the entry fob safely tucked away about the person, or in the car itself.

Of the car itself, the headlights have washers, an acoustic windscreen along with heat insulating glass for side and rear windows.

You also get parking aid plus, an ISOFIX child’s seat mounting, height-adjustable front seats, aluminium drift inlays and door sill trim with aluminium inlays.

The deluxe automatic air conditioning worked to perfection. The height-adjustable front seats were truly appreciated, but cruise control passed us by on our Malta trip. As did the light/rain sensor as the weather was brilliantly sunny. One also finds the Audi Music interface, MMI radio, the connectivity package along with the Audi Sound System and Bluetooth interface.

The seriously interested will want to know a little about the technical side of things. The engine is a four cylinder petrol engine with direct fuel injection, turbo charging and indirect intercooling.

Verdict

Comfort
Absolutely of the moment

Performance
Factually the rated performance has nothing to do with anything. It seems able to perform at each driver’s maximum potential.

Quality
Flawless

At a glance

Top speed
250km/h

0-100km
5.9seconds

Economy
6.3 litres/100kms

C02
146g/km

Engine
4 cylinder in-line petrol engine with direct fuel injection, turbo charging and indirect intercooling. Displacement 1,984cc with 4 valves per cylinder.

Power
227bhp from 4,500 to 6,200rpm

Maximum torque
370Nm from 1,600 to 4,300rpm

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