Traffic congestion is...
Traffic congestion is costing the country up to í‚á£15billion a year - and company bosses don"t think it"s going to get better in the short term. A report by the British Chambers of Commerce said only two per cent of members thought that the Government"s transport proposals would prove effective.
Seen here braving the...
Seen here braving the winter chill, company engineers put the new models through their paces during cold weather testing. As Jaguar has done with its new XK, Audi is developing both hard and soft-top models side-by-side. The advantage of this approach is that the chassis will be engineered from the beginning to be a convertible, and as such will make the Roadster more rigid and better to drive.
When the firm pulled the covers off the Shooting Brake concept at the Tokyo Motor Show last October, the third TT bodystyle was revealed. Merging the appeal of a hatchback with that of a coupé, the three-door variant is expected to become a production reality offering top practicality.
First to arrive will be the two versions spied here, which will go on sale in the UK before the end of 2006. Prices aren"t likely to rise significantly over the existing models", with Audi hoping for similarly impressive sales for the newcomer across Europe.
The current TT"s ageing 1.8-litre turbocharged engine will be dropped in favour of a range of modern FSI petrol units. Expect entry-level TTs to offer around 150bhp, while a model using the 2.0-litre turbo motor from the VW Golf GTI is sure to be a popular choice.
All but the base variants will feature quattro four-wheel drive, with a hot flag-ship using V6 power. The world gets a first official look at the new TT at the Paris Motor Show in September.