Audi roadster a

class act

Audi TT Roadster, front
Audi TT Roadster, rear
Audi TT Roadster, side
Audi TT Roadster, front, hood up
Audi TT Roadster, instrument screen
Audi TT Roadster, interior
Audi TT Roadster, rear, hood up
Audi TT Roadster, rear, hood down
Audi TT Roadster, seats

AUDI seems unstoppable in its desire to offer the biggest range of premium motors and the latest to go on sale in the UK is the stunning new TT Roadster.

Audi is outselling its German competitors, BMW and Mercedes in the up-market quality car sector and with summer ahead its latest open-topper should appeal to those who want wind-in-the-hair fun.

Just slightly larger than the original TT, the third generation of the TT Roadster is shorter and slimmer with shorter overhangs.

The new Roadster retains its fabric roof, which Audi says helps to keep the weight down, as well as giving it a real sports car appearance as opposed to the use of a retractable metal top.

The roof can be opened and closed in just 10 seconds and at speeds of up to 30mph and it folds flat leaving a healthy 280 litres of luggage space.

By using more aluminium and high-strength steel in its body the result is great handling ability, comfort and driving dynamics which TT buyers expect.

Interiors of the TT range have always been classy and the new Audi has been given a makeover with new leather and Alcantara sports seats, attractive manual air conditioning vents and redesigned dash.

One of the most recent technological changes to the TT is the introduction of an impressive "virtual cockpit" with a 12.3-inch high resolution LCD display which can be controlled via steering wheel buttons or the Audi MMI system.

The new roadster comes in Sport and S line specifications _ both include the Audi digital cockpit, xenon or LED headlights, Audi Music Interface, Audi drive select and keyless go and if you opt for the Technology Package the display controls functions such as the sat nav, rev counter, phone, radio and even Internet including Google Street View, Facebook and Twitter.

There's a great choice of engines and drivetrains for the new TT Roadster. At launch there is a 2.0 TFSI 230bhp petrol unit with either front wheel drive and quattro all-wheel-drive and the diesel TDI which offers 184bhp, comes with front wheel drive only.

The oil-burner has a 6-speed manual gearbox only, but will be a popular choice because despite being diesel it offers great performance with a 0-62mph time of just 7.3 seconds and on to a top speed of 147mph, plus, Audi claims the 2.0 TDI ultra versions achieve 65mpg with CO2 just 114 g/km.

Top of the range, with deliveries in June, is the 2.0 TFSI 310bhp TTS Roadster with six-speed S tronic gearing and quattro all-wheel drive. Performance is more than brisk with 4.9 second sprint time and on to 159mph, and fuel economy isn't bad for such a performance motor with Audi claiming 40.9mpg and emissions at 159g/km.

As you'd expect, the new TT offers and huge range of standard and optional driving aids on both the Sport and S line specifications including stability control, central locking an keyless entry, electric seats on S line, full air conditioning, head and side airbags, LED daytime running lights and much more.

On test with both diesel and petrol versions I was very impressed with its handling and responsiveness on some demanding country roads. The TT handles so well it gives the driver confidence to push on a bit brisker than usual.

Even on some pretty rough surfaces the suspension managed to supply a reasonably smooth ride and the steering is precise. Point the TT Roadster into a corner and it goes where you intend with a minimum of body roll.

Noise from road, engine and wind are well suppressed and the plus side is the engine makes a sporty, burbling noise when pushed hard.

Prices for the new Audi TT Roadster start at £31,995 for the ultra diesel and up to £42,455 for the TTS quattro version.

The Audi TT Roadster just gets better and its followers won't be disappointed.

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