For quite some time after its introduction in 1998, the Audi TT was widely criticized as an overpriced VW Golf (they shared the same platform) and a car that was way more show than go. It did look quite sharp, though, and underwhelming performance didn't stop yuppies everywhere from buying them, so by the middle years of the last decade the TT was a good enough seller to keep in the lineup and redesign. Built on the Volkswagen Group's A5 platform (again shared with the Golf, among other cars), the Mk 2 TT has proved to be a better car in just about every measurable way. And in the last few years, they've made it even better with the 272 horsepower TTS and the 335 horsepower TT RS. With these performance packages, six-speed manual transmissions and all-wheel-drive in place of the standard front-wheel-drive, the TT is finally a performer to be taken seriously.
But again, even before that it was a solid seller, and it's hard to believe that Audi has sold half a million examples of its little two-seater over the years. To commemorate this quite staggering achievement, Audi is putting out a new "TTS Competition" model that is really more Audi patting themselves on the back than anything truly special. At the same time, though, it's a neat car that's bound to be collectible in the future. Production is limited to 500 cars, and while the TTS Competition can be had as a coupe or a roadster, color options are limited to Nimbus Gray and Imola Yellow, and you can only get the car with the six-speed S tronic gearbox. Since options don't take up much consideration, then, how is the TTS Competition on uniqueness?
The rest of the car, from the 2.0 liter TFSI engine to the well-appointed interior, is roughly the same as the standard TTS. It would seem that Audi has therefore interpreted the term "competition" rather loosely as this version isn't any racier than the regular TTS, and still less racy than the TT RS. You do get some goodies on the interior like a leather steering wheel and "1 in 500" badges on the door trims, but other than that it's all familiar. The standard TTS interior is actually fantastic, though, so it's really just fine that they've left it alone.
The Competition package runs around €1,900, or $2,500, bringing it into the $50,000 realm. The car isn't a radical departure by any means and it was a pretty easy move for Audi, but it's a neat celebration of an undoubtedly noteworthy achievement. And since there are plenty of people willing to pay for some exclusivity and a few bragging rights, all 500 TTS Competitions will probably sell out in no time.
