Audi Celebrate 25 Years of the TT in the Isle of Man

After 25 successful years and more than 157,000 sales, production of the Audi TT will draw to a close as the brand looks towards electrification across its future range. However, to mark the significant anniversary, Audi UK journeyed to the home of the TT race in which the car took its name, the Isle of Man. Reflecting on its success in the most atmospheric of settings, an early model was showcased in a collection of images alongside two models from the latest range, including the TT RS Iconic Edition.

“The TT was such a pivotal model for Audi back in the Nineties, and we’re still basking in its afterglow almost three decades after the original concept car became an overnight sensation,” says Director of Audi UK Andrew Doyle. “It was one of the key catalysts behind the incredible transformation our brand has undergone over the past quarter of a century, and in this special anniversary year its history and legacy richly deserve celebration.”

Beginning as a concept model at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1995, the Audi TT, in quite a rare occurrence, went from concept to reality by making its way onto the production line three years later.  The TT was the brainchild of American designer Freeman Thomas and on road model was pretty much unchanged from the futuristic concept that was seen in Frankfurt - barring the integration of a rear side window. The minimalistic design was Bauhaus inspired - a ‘less is more philosophy in which every line has a purpose and every shape a function. The car proved to be a success internationally, with strong sales coming its way thanks to its relatively accessible pricing and strong aesthetic appeal. A year later, the coupe was joined by a Roadster model which had a transversely mounted 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. Across those first eight years until 2006, 178,765 first-generation TT Coupes and 90,733 TT Roadsters rolled off the production line, 56,496 of those heading to customers in the UK.

Audi TT Coupé Quattro 1999

After the success of the original Mk I TT, Audi kept to a similar brief when producing the second generation model. The slightly longer and wider TT introduced a new 2.0-litre petrol engine and incorporated new range hallmarks such as the now familiar Audi Singleframe grille design. Similarly to the first generation, a TT Roadster arrived a year later in 2007 and history was made when the TT became the world’s first production sports car to use a diesel engine.

The level of performance was greatly boosted in 2008 when two additional iterations of the TT were released. The TTS used a 268bhp 2.0-litre engine and a year later, a new extensively updated 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo engined ‘RS’ version allowed the TT to produce a top speed of 174mph and 0-60mph time of 4.4 seconds. The RS can be traced back to the famous quattro rally cars of the 1980s.

Finally, the third generation of the Audi TT was launched in 2014. There was no need to stray from this now iconic design, although the weight was reduced by up to 50kg in some cases. The onboard technology benefitted from significant improvements in innovation, most notably by the addition of the fully digital 12.3-inch virtual cockpit which placed previous analogue dials. Power for the standard third generation was provided by 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre TFSI engines, the more powerful offering the option of quattro drive.

Following further painstaking development, the 2.5-litre five-cylinder TFSI slotted into the engine bay of the third generation TT RS Coupe and Roadster with a significantly enhanced output that made for an even more exhilarating driving experience.

In 2018, to mark 20 years of the Audi TT, a revised model was introduced with additional equipment and a subtle redesign bringing it closer to Audi’s other modern offerings. A special edition TT 20 Years model was also produced, limited to just 999 units worldwide.

In February this year, the TT’s glorious run was announced to be ending with the occasion being honoured with the release of a ‘Final Edition’. Although the TT RS Iconic Edition from 2022 (which can be seen in the released images in grey) acted as a farewell in some respects, it was limited to just 11 units in the UK. Deliveries of the Final Edition began in April marking the end of an era.

Cementing its status as an icon across the world and one of the most important cars in Audi’s history, the TT has been a favourite for petrolheads in the UK, which has continuously ranked as one of its biggest markets. Just over 157,000 examples of the TT from across the three generations have been sold to customers in the UK and Audi’s reputation has been significantly enhanced as a result, with more eyes on the German brand than ever as the world awaits future offerings from its soon to be revealed electric line up.

Words: Mike Booth
Pictures: Audi