SILVER ANNIVERSARY: Heart braking news is that the seminal mainstream sports car will be quietly dropped later in 2023

By Ali Mphaki

Audi giveth. Audi taketh. Praise be to its name.Conceptualised at the VW Group design centre in California in 1994, the Audi TT tumbled into the streets in September 1998, followed by a roadster in August 1999.

The styling differed little from the concept, except for slightly reprofiled bumpers, and the addition of rear quarter-light windows behind the doors. Factory production commenced in October 1998.

For unto us a sports car which shook the establishment was born  – taking its name from the successful motor racing tradition of NSU in the British Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) motorcycle race.

The TT name has also been attributed to the phrase “Technology & Tradition”. The combination of knock-out style and mainstream affordability made the TT stand out from the crowd. It democratised cool motoring for the masses.

It’s 25 years since the Audi TT hit the market but sadly has reached the end of the line – putting a damper  to the silver anniversary celebrations.

Why the Audi TT has reached a cul de sac, you might ask.The major reason given is that the market has evolved and car makers have switched their focus on electrification… 

But at what expense?

As if to cushion the blow like a triggered airbag hitting your face, Audi has unleased what is called TT Final Edition to mark the end of production of the iconic sports car.

It’s the last in the run of 655,000 Audi TTs sold in the past quarter of a century, ensuring that this stylish sports car will earn its place in the history.

The TT Final Edition, unfortunately, will not be coming down to SA, as it is only for the UK market.Looking back at the Audi TT’s resume its obvious it wasn’t all plain sailing at the beginning.

The first production cars (above) sported a smooth, spoiler-free rump. After some high-speed motorway crashes, Audi hastily recalled the first series of production to attach a form-ruining ducktail wing to create more rear downforce.

Over its eight-year lifecycle, 178,765 first-generation Audi TTs were produced.

Power for the launch Audi TTs came from humble Golf engines and over time V6 power and the choice of all- or front-wheel drive were all on the menu, and the TT ushered in the Volkswagen group’s first twin-clutch DSG gearbox in production in 2003. It was an arch innovator in many ways.

The final generation Audi TT we recognise today was launched in 2014, offering several innovations. Updates included the debut of the Audi Virtual Cockpit, a fully digital instrument panel with highly detailed, versatile displays.

Though popular upon launch, sales have been significantly slower over recent years, prompting the brand to rethink its strategy. As it disappears into the sunset after three generations, the Audi TT can rightly claim its place as a piece of iconic automotive design.

No doubt it pioneered RetroModern styling in the years before the millennium, reflecting society’s aching nostalgia balanced against the excitement of a new era ahead. The results were striking.

This is a car that’s become more and more appealing over time with the third-generation TT considered  a kind of greatest hits album, mixing the best elements from the two previous generations.

Audi South Africa has chosen to keep the TT offering to the S and RS models.

 There are no plans to introduce a run-out edition of the TT. The final year of sales for this model will be 2024, with the end of production being in October this year 2023.

Hamba kahle!

MOTORING:

Briefs

AUTOWORKERS STRIKE SHIFT GEARS

DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union says it will announce on Friday how it plans to expand its strike against Detroit’s three automakers. The union went on strike Sept. 14 when it couldn’t reach agreements on new contracts with Ford, General Motors and Jeep maker Stellantis.

The UAW’s strategy is to keep escalating the strike if Ford, General Motors and Jeep and Ram owner Stellantis don’t move closer to the union’s contract demands, which include pay raises of 36% over four years. The car companies say they  can’t afford to meet the union’s demands — including a shorter work week, an end to separate and lower pay tiers for new hires, and better retirement benefits — because they must invest in the transition to electric vehicles.

TOUCH OF THE FINGER

In what it’s calling a world first, Mercedes is debuting an in-vehicle payment system in partnership with Mastercard that allows fuel payments with a touch of the finger. The embedded point-of-sale feature for fuelling up is being rolled out first in Germany.

When a driver pulls up at the more than 3,600 connected gas stations in Germany, the Mercedes Fuel and Pay feature will automatically engage on the infotainment system, which will even calculate the maximum fueling charge based on the current price and the volume of a full gas tank, Mercedes says. Mercedes says it’s the first “use case for native in-car payments at the point of sale.” The German automaker said a study commissioned by Mastercard showed that about half of 18- to 39 year olds would use such an in-car feature to pay for goods and services.

ALL-NEW PRELUDE

Honda will take the covers off an electric sports car concept in Tokyo next month, previewing what could morph into an all-new Prelude or S2000. The Japanese car maker last year previewed a pair of sports coupes as part of its future electric-car plans – a ‘Specialty’ model with a front-engined-like silhouette (above), and a ‘Flagship’ model with mid-engined-like proportions similar to the NSX supercar.

Now – in a media statement issued overnight – Honda announced it would reveal a vehicle known as the Specialty Sports Concept at the 2023 Tokyo motor show (due to run from October 26 to November 5).  While few details on the vehicle have been published, the name confirms it is related to the S2000-styled vehicle teased last year – not a preview of a new NSX, as some reports have claimed.

OFF-ROAD MASTER

The YangWang U8 EREV SUV was launched in China last week. It is AWD with four electric motors and a combined output of 880 kW (1,197 horsepower). U8 can perform 360° tank turn, wade, and float on water in emergencies. YangWang is a premium brand under BYD. The U8 launched in two versions – Premium Edition and Off-road Master Edition. The version that started presales today was the Premium Edition, and it will begin deliveries in October. The Off-road Master will hit the market later and has some extra off-road add-ons, like a tougher-looking front bumper, that extends towards the bottom of the car to protect against collision in the wild. It also features a snorkel and detachable roof rack with a small ladder on the side.

U8 Premium Edition costs 1,089,000 yuan about 2 877,94 South African Rand, making U8 the most expensive China’s mass-produced electric car. Master Off-road Edition pre-sale price wasn’t announced yet but is expected to be the same.

ONE MORE THING…

An elderly couple was robbed by pedestrians after being involved in a car accident on the R102 between Canelands and Verulam, north of Durban, on Wednesday, 27 September. According to TimesLIVE, the couple, aged 54 and 73, were trapped in the overturned vehicle when people started grabbing things from their car instead of helping.

In a statement issued by Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), spokesperson Prem Balarm said motorists who witnessed the couple getting robbed called the security company for help. The pedestrian fled the scene after other motorists stopped to help the couple. The 54-year-old woman said someone tried to steal her handbag, but she managed to clutch it tightly. The accident seems to have been cause by a malfunction in the vehicle.