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A Fabulous New Interior For The Audi TT

Topics:  Audi TT

A Fabulous New Interior For The Audi TT

Geoff Maxted
DriveWrite
January 9, 2014

Well, that’s a feather in DriveWrite’s cap. No sooner do I remark in my recent Audi TT RS Plus review (here) that the interior was, although excellent, starting to look a bit dated when Audi pull out all the stops to update it. I suppose if I’m totally honest it might just be a coincidence…

Described as being ‘puristic’ (stop making words up!), intuitive and fully focused on the driver – , Audi is significantly advancing its interior design for the new TT. At the Consumer Electronics Show (in Las Vegas right now the brand with the four rings will, for the first time, be offering a preview of the interior of the evergreen compact sports car, which will be launched on the market in the course of this year.

An Audi spokesman said, “The first Audi TT was the design icon per se, the second generation was even sportier, right through to the TT RS Plus with its five-cylinder TFSI engine and 360PS. With the new Audi TT, the driver will be able to experience the technology to an even greater extent – just as would be expected from a genuine sports car. And it comes with a new generation of electronics and connectivity features.”

For this reason, the Audi virtual cockpit is the focus of attention for the first time in one of the brand’s production models. The fully digital instrument cluster displays all the information directly in front of the driver, meaning that there is no need for a central MMI monitor. This solution gave the designers the freedom to slim down the instrument panel architecture (see above image) such that it visually conveys the Audi lightweight construction principle.

With its clear lines and innovative operation, the interior of the next TT generation has been redesigned from the ground up. From above, the instrument panel resembles an airplane wing; set low and with a turbine look about them, the round air nozzles, a classic TT feature, are reminiscent of jet engines, according to the company. The controls for the air conditioning are also housed in the vents (a brilliant innovation) – 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 chosen setting. Located beneath the central air nozzles, the switches for the hazard warning light and the secondary functions are centrally positioned and easily accessible.

With its brilliant graphics with a 3D impression and highly-detailed effects, the Audi virtual cockpit with its 12.3-inch TFT monitor sets new standards. Drivers can switch between two display modes. In the classic view, the speedometer and rev counter are in the foreground, while in “infotainment” mode, the virtual instruments are smaller. The space that is then created offers ample display space for functions such as the navigation map.

All elements of the new Audi TT operating concept are focused on the driver. The compact sports car’s new multifunction steering wheel features a flat-bottomed rim, with aluminium-look clips framing its spokes. The buttons and controls on the spokes allow you to control almost all functions, including the ultra-modern infotainment system. The menu is structured to reflect that of a smartphone and includes a full-text search function (MMI search).

All the main functions are just a few clicks away. The MMI terminal on the centre tunnel console, the second control unit alongside the steering wheel, has also been exhaustively redeveloped. Thanks to the MMI touch, the driver can scroll and zoom in lists and on maps. Accessing other options has been simplified; in future this will be possible using just two rather than four buttons in the area surrounding the rotary pushbutton.

The innovations continue in the Audi TT interior and include the S sport seats with their significantly curved side bolsters, the integrated headrests and the low seating position typical of a sports car. The slender character of the seats is emphasised by bezels on the flanks of the backrest and a cover on the back; the backrest is adjusted using a loop. The side bolsters of the S sport seats can be adjusted pneumatically.

As an Audi fan I know I’m biased but this really is an improvement over the old interior and I for one can’t wait to get my hands on a new model.