Jalopnik
A number of Audi fan forums across the internet have a spreadsheet showing up that purportedly shows a list of each and every product launch in Germany for 2008 (high-res shot here). Included in the spreadsheet are such noted notables as the Q5 and Q7 V12 TDI at the end of the third quarter, the Audi TT-S listed in the second quarter and the A4 Avant is listed with a spring 2008 reveal. But, what's most interesting is the power number revealed by the document for the Audi TT-S.
The document claims the new S-uperpowered TT is rated at a mere 269 HP, much lower than the predicted 280 horses sources claimed the new up-powered TT would achieve with the 2.0-liter TFSI engine found in the S3. Will TT-heads still buy it? Our bet is yes — but it surely disappoints given the previous conjecture. Well, who knows — maybe it's just Audi low-balling their HP numbers again.
Comments
So a 269 HP TT-S, only 11 HP less than hoped (7 HP less from other sources) will dissappoint? Agreed, a 30 HP increase *looks* better on paper.
What about torque, or entire power curves? It still makes me wonder how only one point on those curves can define to gearheads how much a car sucks or wins. My old 220 HP SHO had a very flat torque curve, and pulled hard right up to redline, enough so that it could keep up with a "much more powerful" 240 HP Altima.
It's not just the raw power figures, it's the power to weight ratio that counts. If the TT-S is lighter than the TT, it might feel like the engine has 30HP more when it doesn't.
And I'd much rather have a manufacturer low-balling its HP numbers than the opposite.
@newfmike: Sadly, peak horsepower figures are what sells cars. What's confusing is that Audi couldn't work with the TT-S packaging the pull the same peak numbers as the S3. I think the assumption is that the S3 will out-perform the TT-S, which is counter-intuitive considering how the two cars are marketed/priced.
A 4% HP drop is "much lower than the predicted"???? I think only chronic whiners will care.
It will still perform better than ever.
@FLB: Agreed. The TT 3.2 is already 30 kg less than the S3, and 135 kg less than the A3 3.2. It will be lighter than the S3, and thus outperform it with a similar power output, assuming the rest of the curve is similar.
Anyone have an idea how the insurance companies deal with power underreporting by the manufacturers?
269hp is "much less" than 280? C'mon, you'll barely notice a difference that small unless you're racing on a drag strip.
For everything else, peak torque and the shape of the torque curve are a lot more important.
The S3 doesn't have 280hp, it has 265!
there's something more interesting on that spreadsheet- it says the Q5 will come in s-tronic (DSG). This either means that the Q5 is on a transverse platform (and not on the same modular longitudinal platform as the A4 & )or that they have figured out how to make the DSG gearbox work with longitudinal engines.
@nirad: Wasn't the Q5 always supposed to be an "A3 Allroad"? If so, than it was always transverse. Think Golf platform here.
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