GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Compact Audi TT mooted

German prestige car maker Audi is keen to promote the TT nameplate, with plans afoot to swell the range to include a smaller, more agile A1-based sports coupe.

Audi has put a lot of stock into the new Audi TT, which is the first car in its range to be fitted with the company's new virtual cockpit. On top of wheeling out the new third generation TT and TT-S models, Audi whipped the covers off its insane TT Quattro Sport Concept, packing a mad 309kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine.

The TT RS has also been confirmed, powered by a five-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, but these models are only the beginning according to Audi's technical development chief, Dr Ulrich Hackenberg.

"I can imagine also a smaller [TT]car," said Hackenberg.

He said a compact TT could be based on the next generation MQB compact car platform, the same that will underpin the next Volkswagen Polo and Audi A1.

"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.

Hackenberg also confirmed that the beastly 309kW 2.0-litre could power a compact Audi TT in future, which would potentially make it one of the world's fastest cars.

"We have a 230hp [170kW] [in the current A1 platform] but the engine I presented today in the TT is 2.0-litre 420hp [309kW] engine also can be fitted in this package."

The potential for more TT-badged models could include larger vehicles too, with the Allroad Shooting Brake concept shown at the 2014 Detroit motor show mooted for the expanding TT family.

Virtually confirming the concept car's transition to production, Hackenberg said the Audi Allroad Shooting Brake was a "vehicle concept we are taking care of" which is code for 'we're building it'.

"I think the Allroad concept from Detroit has got very good feedback ... We are looking intensively what does such a car mean for TT?

"So what about maybe a TT family? We have an RS we have a TT-S, we have the roadster, normal coupe. So why not more?"

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