behind the scenes: AUDI TT time travel

AUDI TT inside the acoustics department, ingolstadt, germany
photo © AUDI AG/rainer viertlböck

designboom was invited to take an exclusive tour behind the scenes of AUDI‘s production facilities and the AUDI museum mobile located in ingolstadt, germany. meeting 14 engineers that shortly introduced their field of profession, the tour gave us a sneak peak into the various fields of the company’s technical developments, including the acoustics department, light development and onboard systems, piloted parking and the electronics integration development. the retrospective viewing included a look through the three generations of the AUDI TT and AUDI TTS – of which the latest conception was presented at the geneva international motor show earlier this month. part of the workshop exhibited the various steps of the design process introduced by interior designer christian becker and exterior designer jürgen löffler.

image courtesy AUDI AG

the third-generation AUDI TT is every inch the sports car – streamlined, masculine and muscular. its body shell taut and athletic. the designers of the compact sports car have reinterpreted the typical lines of the original TT from 1998 and enriched it by adding an array of dynamic elements. at a length of 4.18 meters (13.71 feet), the coupé has a wheelbase of 2.51 meters (8.23 feet) meaning that the overhangs are very short. at the front, the horizontal lines dominate. the single-frame grille is wide and flat, and running from its top corners are the two contours across the hood, which bears the four AUDI rings, just like on the AUDI R8 high-performance super car.

the history of AUDI TT
video courtesy AUDI AG

‘the AUDI TT is synonymous with being a genuine design icon and top-performance machine,’ said prof. dr. ulrich hackenberg, technical development director at AUDI AG. ‘this new generation is enabling us to bring the technology even more to life for drivers – just as they would expect from a real sports car.’

AUDI TT clay model and concept, front view
image courtesy AUDI AG

a full sized scale clay and concept model helps the designers to define the final form and lines by manually drawing the contour lines of the vehicle and making last adjustments with the automotive modeling tape.

jürgen löffler taping lines on the AUDI TT clay model
image courtesy AUDI AG

the complete design process starting from the first sketches, which alone takes up to about two years, until the final concept usually lasts 4-5 years. there are 20 designers starting with the sketches, only 10 of the designers are then selected for the model-making and finally one designer is selected for the final procedure which in this case is jürgen löffler for the exterior design. the AUDI TT will be manufactured at AUDI hungaria motor kft., győr in hungary.

driver’s side view of the clay model
image © designboom

rear 3/4 view of the clay model
image courtesy AUDI AG

introduction of the third generation of the AUDI TTS (front)
image courtesy AUDI AG

many details in the profile of the new coupé are reminiscent the first-generation design classic. the sill contour forms a strong line, the wide wheel arches form their own geometric body. the front arch breaks through the line of the hood, which continues above the door as a tornado line and runs to the tail. the flat glass housing acts like a body in its own right, while a slight bend in the rear side window emphasizes the powerful C-pillar.

first generation of the AUDI TT coupé (1998)
image courtesy AUDI AG

the first-generation AUDI TT came on the market in 1998 – its strictly geometrical, formally coherent design language recalled the bauhaus art movement of the 1920’s. the entire design concept was centered around the circle; the curves of the roof, front and rear end contrasting perfectly with its horizontal contours. this clean and timeless design secured the TT the status of an icon. at the same time, the TT provided strong impetus for the AUDI brand to develop further.

AUDI TTS
image © designboom

the flat headlights give the new TT front end a determined look. the daytime running light has a highly original signature with one horizontal and two vertical bars giving the headlights their structure. this new look is highly reminiscent of the R18 e-tron quattro lights; which will be racing at le mans in 2014. the (optional) matrix LED headlights are supplied with dynamic turn signals that light up sequentially in the direction in which the driver is steering.

the third-generation AUDI TT is more dynamic than ever before, and with an output of 228 kW (310 bhp), the compact TTS sports car is advancing into the high-performance range. the TT also offers impressive efficiency – the 2.0 TDI clean diesel emits only 110 grams of CO2 per kilometer (177.03 g/mile).