Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, Crossover, Audi, Beijing Motor Show, Off-Road



We'll step right out and say we like the TT Offroad Concept, but there's something that's just a bit too... familiar about it. Yes, this yellow five-door looks like a not-so-distant relative of the Allroad Shooting Brake Concept that debuted at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show earlier this year. So, we've seen the production TT, a super-light, high-performance model and now we're seeing a crossover. Does any of this sound familiar? Considering the Detroit concept earned an editors' choice award for that show, you can imagine how we feel about the strikingly similar TT Offroad, which is debuting at the Beijing Motor Show.

The two concepts share a propulsion system - a high-performance version of Audi's E-Tron plug-in-hybrid drivetrain. Total system output sits at 408 horsepower, thanks to a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder and a 40-kilowatt electric motor in front and an 85-kW motor on the rear axle, for all-wheel drive. 62 miles per hour arrives in 5.2 seconds, while the TT Offroad is limited to 155 mph. Fuel economy is impressive, with a claimed 123.8 US miles per gallon on the European cycle.

The most obvious different between these two, then, are their looks. The TT looks a bit tougher, thanks to its larger 21-inch wheels and narrower headlights, but its more conventional belt and roofline give it more of an Audi Q3's look. Out back, a slightly restyled bumper is the sole differentiator between the two vehicles.

The TT enjoys a slightly more upscale cabin, with Stone Gray leather seats with yellow contrast stitching from Poltrona Frau. A diamond-pattern is stitched in the seat inners, while the headliner and other interior points are finished in Alcantara. Like the exterior and the powertrain, though, these two are very, very similar in terms of their TT-based layout.

It's way too early to guess whether Audi will attempt to expand the TT family beyond its long-running coupe and convertible models. It certainly seems plausible, though, particularly when you hear high-ranking Audi officials say stuff like this: "[The TT Offroad Concept is] a glimpse of how we might imagine a new model in a future TT family." The latter remark comes from Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, a member of Audi's board of management for technical development. Sources don't get much higher than that.

Take a look below for the press blast on the TT Offroad Concept, and then hop up top for the official images of the rough-and-tumble TT in the gallery.Continue reading TT Offroad Concept shows Audi's design icon isn't afraid to play dirty

TT Offroad Concept shows Audi's design icon isn't afraid to play dirty originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Apr 2014 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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