Audi has hinted at bringing back one of the most iconic performance coupes more than 25 years after the original model debuted.
Despite not being a part of the premium brand’s range for nearly two years, the Audi TT is still widely praised for its blend of attractive styling, good performance, and reasonable price.
As a result, in an interview with the motoring publication Auto Express, Gernot Döllner, CEO of Audi, noted that the model could return for the electric age.
He explained: “I believe Audi should have a sports car, for sure. That’s part of the brand DNA, and we have to find the right way, timing wise, to integrate it into our portfolio.
“If you’re talking about real racing cars for the track, to me the only way until now is combustion engine or hybrid. But if it’s more for everyday use on normal roads, I would definitely see a transition to the electric era.”
Introduced in 1998, the original Audi TT was a range of hardtop coupes and convertibles based on the same platform as the Volkswagen Golf.
Despite a shaky start, which saw the model recalled in order to make the handling more predictable at speed, the TT was given a number of accolades, including North American Car of the Year 2000.
Part of the model’s appeal was its impressive performance, with the TT RS Roadster’s five-cylinder petrol engine giving the little convertible the ability to sprint from 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 155mph.
Whilst the last Audi TT left the production line in November 2023, the company has not completely dismissed the idea of producing another sportscar for an attainable price.
However, if a new TT were to go into production, it is likely that it would feature an entirely electric powertrain – using the upcoming SSP platform that will also be found on the next-generation Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia.
Volkswagen Group claims that the platform will be capable of providing a range of up to 400 miles per charge, depending on the weight and shape of the vehicle, and be capable of super-fast charging.
While very little is known about a potential future version of the Audi TT, the German brand also recently announced hopes to revive the R8 name for their next supercar.
Using the same technology and mechanicals as the Lamborghini Temerario, a new version of the Audi R8 would retain petrol-power, featuring a 4.0-litre V8 engine that produces 907bhp in conjunction with no fewer than three electric motors.
Nevertheless, in both cases, drivers looking for a sleek performance Audi will need to wait, with neither model set to go into production until at least 2027, if at all.