Autoblog

Not the next-gen model, but click above for Audi TT-S high-res gallery

Audi's next-gen TT may be getting a significant re-design, with a mid-engine placement if the swirling speculation around the interwebs is true. Now in its second-generation, the TT sits on Volkswagen's PQ35 platform (shared with the Volkswagen Eos and Tiguan) meaning customers are offered a front-engine chassis with a front- or all-wheel drive powertrain. When stacked against the front-engine BMW Z4 and mid-engine Porsche Boxster/Cayman, the current Audi TT holds its own... but that isn't keeping Ingolstadt engineers content. They realize that if they switch to a mid-engine design, like the one found on the amazing Audi R8, balance and handling will improve. Plus, Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system can be tailored with even more rearward torque bias. The third-gen TT, however, isn't set to debut until 2013. With Porsche moving closer to purchasing Volkswagen, a long lead may work to Audi's advantage as they'll have to convince the automaker from Stuttgart that a mid-engine TT won't chew into Boxster/Cayman sales.

[Source: World Car Fans]

The Audi TT-S in both flavors, coupe and cabrio, has been spotted in the wild. The car gets the 2.0-liter TSFI with a jump up to 280 HP instead of the 200 HP found in the base TT, or the 265 HP in the S3. The TT-S puts room between itself and lesser variants with a redesigned front fascia, larger brakes, quad pipes out back, and LED lamps along the lower front edge of the headlights.

The TT-S cabrio was caught at the Nurburgring. How well either car will challenge their sporty siblings remains to be seen, but we certainly won't complain about more power. The TT-S coupe will debut at the Geneva Motor Show next year, and be followed by even hotter TT-RS with 350 HP some time down the line.

Thanks for the tip, Gregory!

[Source: World Car Fans]