At the Auto Expo last year, the only Audi TT in the German pavilion drew the largest number of awe-struck auto aficionados. Remember that the TT was up against a gleaming cavalcade of Mercedes, BMWs, Skodas and the like.

Now, if you thought that the only place you?d probably get to see a curvy TT was in a glossy auto magazine or on the tube, you?re in for a surprise. The Audi TT will soon be making a much-awaited appearance on Indian roads.

Although the TT has some exciting styling going for it, the car is actually based on a platform that it shares with three other (mundane, in comparison) cars: the Volkswagen Golf, the Volkswagen Beetle and the Audi A3. This, however, is in keeping with current manufacturing trends in order to cut costs.

Audi claims that the TT?s current styling includes nuances of the famous 600bhp Auto Union racing cars of the 1930s. But one has to look long and hard to make these out ? it?s not a retro design really. That said, however, it?s the TT?s styling that singles it out to buyers worldwide.

If it looks good, it drives even better. The engine options here are basically two. First, there is an inline 1.8 litre turbo-charged DOHC (Dual Over Head Camshaft) five-valve-per-cylinder unit that is available in three versions, developing about 150bhp, 180bhp and 225bhp and 210, 235 and 280Nm of torque. The second option is a V6, which is a 3.2 litre unit developing 250bhp and 320Nm of torque.

Audi?s philosophy, ?Vorsprung durch Technik? (ahead or advanced due to technology) is at work in this sports car too. The V6 TT features a revolutionary new gearbox that promises to eliminate conventional automatic transmission boxes once it reaches mass market cars. Called a DSG (Dynamic Shift Gearbox), this is a rather ingenious concept wherein the usual cause for transmission power loss in automatic transmissions, the torque converter, is eliminated.

This has been achieved by the use of a system of twin clutches together with three separate shafts. The functioning is somewhat similar to the Wilson pre-selector gearboxes used in some vintage cars, as some old-timers may remember. While driving in one gear with one clutch engaged, as the next gearshift approaches, the required gear is selected in advance so, at the time of the actual shift, the second clutch is engaged and the first clutch is disengaged all together. The overlapping time allows the gears to shift under load and the flow of power is uninterrupted.

The TT is available both as a hard-top coupe and a soft-top roadster. The hard top is actually made of synthetic material and placed on an aluminium space frame, which makes it both light and sturdy. The inner side of the hard top is lined with insulation material. With the Roadster though, it?s quite the opposite ? remove the soft-top and the sky is the limit. It?s easy to open too, thanks to power assistance. Not only is the soft-top designed for easy use, but the direction of the weave and the rigidity of the fabric ensures it doesn?t billow out at high speeds and alter the car?s drag coefficient.

Roadsters are intended to be driven at higher speeds than normal family saloons and this means a greater emphasis on safety, especially as there?s no supporting roof. Audi has taken care of this with the TT having passed several crash tests, including those for side impacts. The body has been made extremely rigid with aluminium side impact bars, along with broad door sills. Passenger protection during frontal impacts is via airbags and the passenger airbag can be switched off in case a child seat is installed in the passenger seat.

As any automobile fan already knows, Audi and Mercedes had a long and famous rivalry on the tracks in the 30s. That was a period of German supremacy, sending the little British ERA cars scurrying for cover. And now, that rivalry looks all set to resume in India as the TT?s rival, the Mercedes SLK, is already available in the country.

A quick comparison reveals both 1.8s to be of similar character and performance, though the SLK uses a ?Kompressor? (supercharger) to boost the engine?s power output along with an ?always on? characteristic compared to the TT, which uses an engine exhaust gas driven turbo-charger to boost power. The cars are similar, though the SLK is longer, wider (1,777mm to 1,764mm) and shorter (1,296mm to 1,345mm) than the TT and the wheelbase is longer too (2,430mm to 2,422mm). The SLK is heavier as well at 1,390kg to the TT?s 1,280kg. The all-wheel-drive ?quattro? version, however, has a longer wheelbase measuring 2,429mm, no doubt due to the need to house the extra differential and shafts of Audi?s Torsen transmission system. The front-wheel-drive only version gets the 150bhp engine.

At last, suitable competition for the Stuttgart company. It will be interesting to see how the battle between the traditional rivals develops, even though Mercedes already has a head start on Indian roads.

Easy listening

Pallabi Chatterjee
actress

The kind of music I listen to depends on my mood. If I?m feeling perky, then it?s got to be some peppy number, but if I?m feeling down, then I prefer listening to soft, sentimental tracks. Again, if I need to destress after a hard day, I enjoy mellow music especially lounge music like the Buddha Bar and Enigma albums.

While I usually don?t listen to a lot of Indian classical, I am partial to ghazals. And I love old filmi tunes particularly those by R.D Burman. Currently, I?m hooked on a few remixes of old classics as well as the soundtrack of Hum Tum.

I?m also really fond of Latin music and Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias rank way up there on my list. I also have quite a few CDs of Elton John and Dire Straits, two of my eternal favourites. Sadly, my car stereo got stolen recently but I?m going to fix up a new one as soon as possible. I hate not being able to listen to music while I drive my Santro.