On the surface of it, Jackson Hole, Wyoming wouldn’t be the first place you’d pick to go and drive an Audi TT. A locale known better for arches of elk antlers in the town square or Dick Cheney is the type of burg where you’d expect a German sports coupe like the TT to be a pretty rare find. Yet here at the local Trapper Inn, we find a heard of them, in town to attend an annual gathering of owners known as TT-West. Among the cars is a version of the breed not even available in the US yet – the car that brought us here - the venerable TTS.
The reason for the TTS’ (a pair of them actually) very presence in Jackson is based on a rather unconventional decision by Audi of America. The theory goes that there is no better or more loyal demographic of TT owners in the US than those who attend the TT-West event and its right coast equivalent TT-East. Why not reward the exuberance of these most loyal with a chance to see, smell, touch and even drive the new cars – two of only three that had been in-country for demonstrations and were about to be shipped out.
TT-West attendees had blasted up from Salt Lake City just the day before and even planned more driving, but the two German-spec show cars were due back in Houston ASAP – German market cars have to be shipped home or crushed. I was in town to help move one of the pair back to Salt Lake City, and would be aiding Audi of America TT product manager Chas Murphy and Richard Casteel of Audi’s western sales region. The drive route would be limited to what we’d encounter on our return trip to Utah, but this would still mark the first time a journalist would be officially tossed the keys to one of these cars on U.S. soil.
And so it began. As the TT-Westers wiped morning frost from their cars, Mr. Murphy and I approached the two white European-spec cars parked in the lot of the Trapper Inn. Even in a crowd of TTs, the S-versions are easily spotted. There’s the floating Audi grille fuselage nose with frowning fascia that’s finding its way into more and more Audi design, along with harder-edged sideskirts. The usual S-inspired elements are also there – satin silver mirrors, grey grille and valance, quad exhaust tips, split five-spoker wheels and the usual S-badges front and rear. Chas fires up the first of the cars to get it warmed up and the LED-formed Audi’s mean-looking DRLs pierce through the crisp morning air. After topping the two off with gas, we hit the road for Salt Lake City.
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