With the current-generation Audi TT sports-car nearing the end of its life-cycle – and no word of a replacement – Australia is poised to receive one final special edition.
Audi Australia has confirmed it is planning a ‘special edition’ of its iconic TT sports-car – which could arrive in showrooms later this year – as the nameplate prepares to bow out at the end of the current model’s life-cycle.
Although unconfirmed by Audi head office in Germany, it is widely anticipated the current Audi TT will be the last of its breed – amid declining sales in Europe and overseas – ending a 25-year history that began in 1998 with the original ‘8N’ generation TT.
The current, third-generation Audi TT (codenamed FV/8S), launched in Europe in 2014 and is now nearing the end of its life-cycle. There has been no word from Audi about a replacement – with petrol or electric power.
Audi Australia product manager Matthew Dale told Drive to “watch this space” when asked directly if an Australia-specific final edition for the TT is planned for Australia.
If it comes to fruition, the locally-created special edition TT would join the likes of the US-only Audi TT RS Heritage Edition, a limited run of 50 cars celebrating the end of the model in the US market in 2021.
Similarly, the European-only Audi TT RS Iconic Edition (pictured throughout this story), released in October 2022 is limited to just 100 cars, with only nine of those being right-hand-drive variants.
The limited-run TT RS model for Europe features a bespoke aerodynamics package that includes a newly-designed front splitter, bigger side skirts and a larger fixed rear wing fashioned in carbon fibre.
Equipped with gloss-black 20-inch alloy wheels, the Audi TT Iconic Edition also receives a cabin upgrade, with interior trim in black and grey, adorned with contrasting yellow stitching and ‘Iconic Edition’ embroidery on the front backrests.
Although the RS model’s 2.5-litre turbo five-cylinder engine doesn’t receive a power and torque boost – retaining 294kW and 480Nm outputs – the limited top speed of 250km/h has been raised to 280km/h. The Iconic Edition’s claimed 0-100km/h time is rated at 3.7 seconds.
The nine UK-market right-hand-drive examples of the special edition are priced from £87,650, or $AU152,000. Currently the regular Audi TT RS asks for $141,300 plus on-road costs in Australia.
Mr Dale would not be drawn on the details of the local TT special edition, but did say an announcement would be made soon.
“We think there’s still an appetite for TT given its heritage,” Mr Dale told Drive.
“So yeah, what we’re working on at the moment is evaluating what we do as a lifecycle measure for that car for those enthusiasts that still follow TT in its current form. But until the point in time, which will be soon… we will announce something locally. [It’s] a local initiative that we’re working on.”
Audi Australia has sold just over 2000 examples of the current-generation TT since its launch in early 2015. Its best sales were recorded its first year of sales, with 651 TTs finding new homes locally. In 2022, Audi Australia sold 41 TTs.
