For 2010, the Audi TT is reduced to a single powertrain choice, the 2.0T Quattro, as front-wheel drive and the 3.2-liter V6 (including its optional manual transmission) have been discontinued.
IntroductionAppealing competitors include the BMW 1 Series, BMW 3 Series and Infiniti G37, and if you prefer Audi's particular brand of style, the company's own A5 coupe merits consideration.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and OptionsThe 2010 Audi TT is available as a 2+2 hatchback coupe or a two-seat roadster, both of which come in one trim level known as Premium. Other options include an adjustable suspension with magnetorheological dampers, different 18-inch wheels, extended leather packages and leather upholstery with baseball glove-style stitching. The S line Package adds 19-inch wheels, S line bumpers, sport seats, special upholstery, a sport steering wheel and headlight washers.
The 2010 Audi TT comes standard with Quattro all-wheel drive and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. Estimated fuel economy is 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined.
True to Audi tradition, the interior of the 2010 Audi TT is beautifully built. The flat-bottomed wheel and supportive front seats give the interior a sporty feel, while the coupe's hatchback design and fold-down rear seats offer practicality and ample luggage space, to the tune of 23 cubic feet with those seats folded.
Driving ImpressionsThe 2010 Audi TT is now only available with the turbocharged four-cylinder and Quattro all-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is a rarity among luxury sport coupes and especially convertibles, so those in frosty climes will appreciate the TT's all-weather traction.
The 2010 Audi S6 gains Audi's third-generation MMI electronics controller, including better graphics, improved menus and easier navigation operation. Because 59 percent of its weight hangs over the front wheels, even its Quattro all-wheel-drive system's 40/60 power distribution can't save it from speed-scrubbing understeer.
The 2010 Audi S6 is a high-performance sedan available in one loaded trim level. Standard equipment includes 19-inch wheels, summer tires, a sunroof, adaptive xenon headlights, LED running lights, front and rear foglights, keyless ignition/entry, power tilt-telescoping steering column, eight-way power front seats with lumbar adjustment and driver memory functions, leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, the MMI controller, a hard-drive-based navigation system (includes real-time traffic) and a 13-speaker surround-sound system with six-CD changer, satellite radio and iPod interface. Options include rear side airbags, non sport seats, a blind-spot warning system and 18-inch wheels with summer tires.
The all-wheel-drive 2010 Audi S6 is powered by a 5.2-liter V10 that cranks out 435 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy estimates are 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined.
Safety Standard safety equipment on the 2010 Audi S6 includes antilock disc brakes, stability control, all-wheel drive, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. Rear side airbags are an option. Trimmed in leather and aluminum with birch wood accents, the S6's cabin carries on the Audi tradition of finely wrought interiors.
Driving Impressions There's no payoff in terms of ride comfort, either -- the 2010 Audi S6's suspension is sports-car stiff.
The 2010 Audi S5 gets a cabriolet (soft-top convertible) variant that's available only with a new supercharged V6, whereas the coupe keeps the previous V8. The 2010 Audi S5 is a calculated addition to Audi's arsenal, a high-performance luxury coupe/convertible intended to counter BMW's growing stockpile of turbocharged sporting machines.
Shared with other performance cars in Audi's lineup, the cabriolet's force-fed V6 makes 333 horsepower and as much torque -- 325 pound-feet -- as the coupe's 4.2-liter V8. The high-performance 2010 Audi S5 is available as a coupe or soft-top convertible (the cabriolet) in two trim levels: Premium Plus and Prestige.
The base 2010 Audi S5 Premium Plus comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, xenon headlamps, foglamps, power heated exterior mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, an electronic parking brake, a multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel, a panoramic tilt-only sunroof, tri-zone automatic climate control, power and heated front sport seats, napa leather upholstery, a 50/50-split-folding rear seatback, Bluetooth, Audi's Multi Media Interface (MMI) with dash-mounted controls and a CD audio system with satellite radio and an auxiliary input jack. Optional on the Premium Plus trim are the navigation system and Bang & Olufsen sound system. The cabriolet-only Comfort package adds a neck-level heating system and ventilated seats with special Milano leather upholstery.
A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the coupe, and a six-speed automatic with manual shift control is optional. On the cabriolet, a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual is the only available transmission.
In performance testing, we spurred a manual-transmission 2010 Audi S5 coupe from zero to 60 mph in a fleet 4.9 seconds. The V6-powered cabriolet comes in at 17/26/20 mpg.
Coupes have side curtain airbags as well, while cabriolets have active roll bars behind the seats.
Driving Impressions The optional variable-ratio steering system that comes with the 2010 Audi S5 Drive Select package provides a similarly contrived feel. The coupe's 4.2-liter V8 is simply one of our favorite engines.
For 2010, the Audi TT is reduced to a single powertrain choice, the 2.0T Quattro, as front-wheel drive and the 3.2-liter V6 (including its optional manual transmission) have been discontinued.
