TT just when i started to really like the TT..

[Deutsch]

the engine sits
over the front axle.... and i thought audi would get it right... All bets are off in the way of this car haivng vastly improved steering feel over its predecessor. Z4/ M coupe, here I come...

 

[Zonda]

I'm pretty sure Audi engineers have worked hard to eliminate the feel that you are driving a car with the engine over the front axle. I'd wait for a magazines verdict or a personal testdrive before I made up my mind.

 

[LaArtist]

ofcourse it does.. havent you seen the huge overhang?

 

[Deutsch]

ofcourse it does.. havent you seen the huge overhang?

doesn't look that long to me. 6er's front overhang is just as long if not longer.

in regards to the "wait and see" idea, weight is weight, and as long as the engine sits over the front axle, some steering feel will be lost. That's just a factor w/ this kind of layout.

 

[GTA45E]

Damn, that engine is like on the very edge! A good deal ahead of the front axle. This is quit normal for Audi though. All their cars are designed this way, hence the overhang.

I don`t think the TT ever handled as well as the Z4. I could be wrong but I don`t think I am.

 

[LaArtist]

the 6er is almost twice the size of the TT..and if the TT has the same ammount of overhang like a 6er its no good

 

[Andaluz]

The previous Audi TT was often criticized by the British motoring press (specially Jeremy Clarkson) for being stodgy and numb to drive.

 

[Deutsch]

what's unfortunate is that this is such a lovely car in every way, though it's not been driven yet, i think it's now a safe assumption that we can only expect a marginal improvement from where the previous generation was. We sure can hope to read "BMW beater" but i dont think that's gonna happen.

 

[Matt]

The RS4's engine hangs over the front axel as well but Audi was able to minimize the negative effect simply by using lighter materials and sending more power to the rear. So I think the "we'll see" responce is probably most accurate however I agree that its a really stupid design/engineering flaw.

 

[Top Secret]

It's hardly a "stupid" idea to slog it well over the front axle. It provides many benefits.

 

[warot]

It's hardly a "stupid" idea to slog it well over the front axle. It provides many benefits.

Such as?

 

[Matt]

yea because when you get in a small front end collision your engine is completely destroyed.....oh wait thats not a benefit.....

And its really catching on with other automotive companies....oops, scratch that..

Please tell what the benefits are to this seemingly "stupid" design flaw....

 

[Carbon]

yea because when you get in a small front end collision your engine is completely destroyed.....oh wait thats not a benefit.....

And its really catching on with other automotive companies....oops, scratch that..

Please tell what the benefits are to this seemingly "stupid" design flaw....

It minimizes wasted space in the front end and allows for more interior room in a smaller vehicle. It may not be the best thing for dynamic handling, but if there were no positives to the design do you really think they would use it?

 

[bum-man]

Audi really needs to ditch FWD.

 

[Yperion]

TT has a transverse mounted engine so there is no way the engine could be further behind.

For those that speak about weight distribution may i remind that the Japanese icon of car engineering, Mitsubishi Evo IX , which has proven to be much faster than the much more powerful M5 in track, has 60:40 weight distribution.
Also the same goes for Golf R32 which has about the same but as i recall managed to beat the "balanced" BMW 130i in many tests.

 

[Matt]

It minimizes wasted space in the front end and allows for more interior room in a smaller vehicle. It may not be the best thing for dynamic handling, but if there were no positives to the design do you really think they would use it?

Why wouldnt they just move the front axel forward to increase interior room?? I actually think it has something to do with the three differentials (awd cars have 3). The engine needs to be in front of the front defferential because the crank hooks to it so they naturally have to mount the engine in front of the axel because its where the diff is.. Hopefully someone with more technical expertise (martinbo) can further explain much better than me...

 

[Merc1]

Oh boy...I've had this "debate" with some Audi fans around here, but I'd wait to see how it drives first. Remember this TT has a lot of aluminum in its makeup this time around so they could have a really light front end to help with the awkward placement of the engine, but just by design the TT isn't going to outhande a Boxster regardless.

M

 

[Deutsch]

Oh boy...I've had this "debate" with some Audi fans around here, but I'd wait to see how it drives first. Remember this TT has a lot of aluminum in its makeup this time around so they could have a really light front end to help with the awkward placement of the engine, but just by design the TT isn't going to outhande a Boxster regardless.

M

Very few cars can outhandle a Porsche, on any level.

I love love love the new TT in terms of looks and buid quality, depth of engineering, etc. I like this car MUCH more than the Z4 coupe. However the driving dynamics are of great concern to me, because i want this car to suceed, but Audi being Audi... that can only be a hope easily dashed by poor engine placement. Though, as many have said this car uses a hybrid chassis setup so that could indeed counter some of the negative weight at the front. Only a test drive by a noteworthy auto publication will tell.. or perhaps a drive on our own. The ONLY reason I'd take a Z4 coupe over the new TT is driving dynamics, i'm a road junkie. BiG time!

 

[sunnyman12]

all wheel drive is a good enough reason not to buy the tt...that and the fact its not very nice

 

[Zafiro]

all wheel drive is a good enough reason not to buy the tt...that and the fact its not very nice

if I was buying a TT it would be with all wheel drive and not FWD.