Audi plotting TT 'family car'

Audi only recently revealed its third-generation TT coupe, but already the company is plotting future derivatives that could significantly broaden the model’s reach.

UK’s Autocar magazine has quoted Audi technical chief Ulrich Hackenberg as saying the company can venture beyond the traditional coupe and roadster formats for the popular TT, raising the prospect of sedan, ‘shooting brake’ wagon or even SUV models wearing the TT look and badge.

“We are looking to see if there is more we can do,” Hackenberg told the publication. “Could the TT be extended as a family car?”

Dr Hackenberg also told motoring.com.au at last month’s Geneva motor show that the TT range could be expanded to include a smaller sports car underpinned by the same MQB-based compact car platform that will form the basis of the next Volkswagen Polo and Audi A1.

"I can imagine also a smaller [TT]car," said Hackenberg. "We just have shown the S1 four-wheel drive car and I think it's the most sporty possibility to run in the A0 [compact] class, but I can imagine maybe with the successor we are doing an even more sporty model.

"Because the TT is our icon, the TT is a car with a known design language, I can imagine a lot of models. So wait a little bit, the ideas are going round to make more, so we have enough to show next time," he said, hinting at more TT concepts for future motor shows.

Dr Hackenberg’s remarks also back up comments made by Audi exterior designer Jurgen Loffler, who expressed his opinion to motoring.com.au at a recent TT workshop in Ingolstadt that a production version of the Allroad Shooting Brake concept (pictured here) revealed at the Detroit show “made sense”.

The four-seater concept (the TT coupe has four seats too, but the rear two are best left to amputees) shown at Detroit featured a hybrid powertrain comprising a 218kW 2.0-litre TFSI four-cylinder turbo engine, backed by a 40kW electric motor and a secondary 85kW motor acting upon the rear axle to provide extra punch at low and moderate speeds.

Although its powertrain was interesting in itself, it’s the Shooting Brake’s wagon-esque rear-end that’s the real point of interest. In addition to its extra rear-seat space, the modded derriere would undoubtedly liberate added luggage capacity, boosting the car’s versatility as an all-purpose vehicle.

What’s more, its mildly raised ride height endows the Shooting Brake with a pseudo-all-terrainer stance, which could make it an appealing proposition for buyers who might otherwise opt for, say, a Range Rover Evoque.

The plan to broaden the TT line-up is said to have been motivated by the strong brand image associated with the coupe (and roadster), which had been regarded as a design icon since the first-gen model debuted in 1998.

That said, the steady decline of the coupe segment resulted in the TT notching up just 18,353 sales last year, a drop in the ocean compared with Audi’s overall volume of 1.6 million cars globally.

There’s far greater volume to be tapped into via the compact premium sedan and SUV segments, and hence Audi’s decision to explore other derivatives of the TT, such as a sleek four-door sedan in the mould of the Mercedes-Benz CLA or even a higher-riding crossover version.

However, while any future TT derivative is certain to be based on the Volkswagen Group’s e ubiquitous MQB architecture used by the VW Golf, Audi A3 and new TT, whether it comes with the latter’s costlier aluminium body panels and high-tech 'virtual cockpit' remains to be seen.