Audi TTS competition special edition marks production milestone

Limited to 500 units worldwide and available in both Coupe and Roadster guises, the Audi TTS competition is offered in two exclusive exterior paint finishes – Imola Yellow and Nimbus Grey – with Black or Grey soft tops for the convertibles.

Based on the 200kW/350Nm turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder TTS, the competition special edition features a fixed rear wing with matt aluminium stays and 19-inch Rotor wheels, along with xenon plus headlights and magnetic ride damper control.

Claiming 0-100km/h in 5.3 seconds when paired with the six-speed 'S tronic' dual-clutch automatic transmission, the TTS competition Coupe takes 5.5 seconds to hit triple figures with the alternative manual gearbox fitted. The Roadster delivers times of 5.5sec and 5.7sec, respectively. Both variants are electronically limited to 250km/h and incorporate Audi's quattro permanent all-while-drive system.

Inside, an Impulse leather package sees Steel Grey highlights join a leather multifunction steering wheel, and leather and Imola Yellow accents. Embossed aluminium badges on the door trims stamped with ‘1 of 500’ point to the special edition models’ exclusivity.

Commanding a 1900 euro ($2750) premium over the base TTS in Europe, the competition also includes rear parking sensors.

Set to start production in October, Audi Australia’s Shaun Cleary told CarAdvice a decision on whether the Audi TTS competition would come to local showrooms would depend on local market interest. In the interim, fans of the sports car are still offered the standard TT, which starts at $68,950, TTS priced from $98,400 and the $139,400 flagship TTRS.

The first-generation Audi TT debuted in Coupe form in 1998 with the Roadster following the year after before the second-generation took over in 2006/2007.

The man behind the design of the long-awaited third-generation TT due to launch in 2014, head of Volkswagen Group design Walter de Silva, told CarAdvice in March, that styling for the next-gen model has already been officially signed off.

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