Showing posts with label tt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tt. Show all posts

Saturday, November 11, 2023

My FM Log: The Last Schuhplattler

The second-generation Audi R8 has reached its endgame and this facelifted version is the sign of the time that Audi's first and only rear-wheel-drive machine will head to the great junkyard in the sky.


Players of the new Forza Motorsport game have until November 16th to fully clear the Open Class Tour from C Class Series to S Class Series to obtain the 2020 Audi R8 V10 performance and then take it for a spin in its own Reward Showcase event. If you haven't done it, now's the time to do so.


The second-generation Audi R8 was facelifted for the 2020 Model Year featuring a revised design and improved performance.

In addition to its revamped front face and rear bumpers, the Lamborghini-derived 5.2L V10 engine that powers it has been improved to produce 30hp and 10Nm more than the previous model, giving it 562hp of power and 550Nm of torque, delivering a 0-100kph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 324kph. In the performance variant, the same V10 engine gets 612hp of power and 580Nm of torque, slightly more powerful than the old R8 V10 plus variant it replaces.

The facelifted second-generation R8 features improved suspension setup as well as adding three new settings to the R8's Audi drive select system; dry, wet, and snow. It even comes with optional dynamic steering and electromechanical power steering as well.


It's wise for the new Forza Motorsport game to feature the facelifted second-generation Audi R8, in V10 performance trim, because while this is truly the last R8 Audi will ever make, the producers want its soon-to-be-bereaved Audi fanatics to savor the final moments of this car by driving the R8 harder and louder for longer before Audi pulls the plug on their first-and-only rear-wheel-drive V10-powered supercar that uses most of the learnings from Lamborghini, which Audi has control of it.


As the world bids farewell to the Audi R8, I decided to have one last push by driving it around the Nurburgring Grand Prix Circuit, the official venue of Formula 1's German Grand Prix. While this is basically the ultimate resting place for the V10-powered R8, it looks like it's not the only one that's about to get Rest In Pieces...


There's also the third-generation Audi TT, in RS trim, that's about to head to the great junkyard in the sky. 

As the high-performance version of the third-generation Audi TT, the TT RS is the ultimate all-around sports car capable of taking through uncharted heights no sports car in its class dared to go beyond.

Powered by the five-cylinder 2.5L turbocharged engine, the Audi TT RS produces 400PS of power and 480Nm of torque. Mated to a 7-speed DSG, the Audi TT RS sprints from 0-100kph in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 280kph thanks to an optional extra.


With the two Audi sports cars stepping out for one last Schuhplattler, it's time to find out which one has the last laugh. TT, R8, give us your last dance before your imminent deaths. Roll the tapes.



The R8 V10 performance did it in 2m18.655s while the TT RS did it in 2m29.656s. Yes, the R8 defeated the TT RS by a long margin but what they did is a fitting end of themselves.


When the R8 dies, Audi will bid Auf Wiedersehen to its GT-class racing programs as it focuses on its return to top-class endurance racing and also its Formula 1 entry. 

Such sacrifices have to be made for the greater good and although tearful to watch both of these Audi sports cars experience euthanasia, their legacies will never die. The R8 and the TT may be completely different but together, they've accomplished their mission like a brave German soldier in his dying moments.

Auf Wiedersehen, R8 and TT. You made us proud until the very end.

Monday, August 21, 2023

My FH5 Log: Operation Horizon Music Hour

The Audi TT is 25 years old and it's set for its impending euthanasia, which saddens most fanatics of this car since the first generation. The third-and-final generation TT, in its ultimate RS form, is proof that it managed to stand through the test of time until its last drop.



So, how should I make the final moments of the Audi TT a memorable one?


What's this? A G82 BMW M4 Competition Coupe?! Looks like it's up to something...



Looks like the odd duo is having a little "Save the Last Dance" moment at the Horizon Badlands. How charming for a moment like this.



As the BMW M4 treats the Audi TT RS for a sprint at the Switchback Run, the two cars are playing the game of which one is the fastest. However, their little duel got interrupted by the arrival of...


...the all-electric Audi RS e-tron GT, the third wheel interrupting the TT RS's final moments on Planet Earth. Looks like it's a three-way fight now and with that, roll the tape.


And here are the results...

TT RS (8S) - 3m42.823s

RS e-tron GT - 3m36.016s

G82 M4 Competition - 3m40.888s


Such a result is making the TT RS blush. If the RS e-tron GT didn't pop up from nowhere, the M4 wins the friendly duel against the soon-to-be-euthanized TT RS. Sadly, it's too late for that and the all-electric RS e-tron GT struck them like...that one venue at Animaniacs Ten Pin Alley where funny things happen and you scored a strike. Anyone remember?


The Audi RS e-tron GT may have ruined the last dance between the G82 BMW M4 and the TT 8S RS but that was just Phase One of this operation. Here comes the latter half of this operation I called...Operation Horizon Music Hour.




The all-electric Audi RS e-tron GT got a little makeover by a fleet of Tanto-chan for the role of Waccha PriMagi's Auru Omega. The Tatejima motif on the Audi emblem at the back adds a nice touch to it. Just don't let Volt-chan overload it. Huhehe... Anyway, this is the all-electric Audi with a hint of Electro Remix to it. Omega be pleased.




The third-generation Audi TT RS, meanwhile, gets all vibrant and pastel for the role of Waccha PriMagi's Miruki Amauri. Call her cute, we dare you, dao.




Lastly, the weird-looking BMW M4 G82 Competition Coupe gets a new lease of life as it plunges through the Radiant Abyss and emerged for the role of Waccha PriMagi's Lemon Kokoa. Take note of the CSL-inspired stripes draw inspiration from her partner Carron and the ectoplasm thing coming out from the kidney grille. This feels just like...Miss Lemon!




There is a clear explanation for this PriMagi Music Hour shindig because a long time ago, the Pretty Series producers asked the fans which Primagista is the best and the top three best Primagistas get to perform the song called, you guessed it, Youkusou! PriMagi Music Hour. Auru is ranked 3rd, Miruki is ranked 2nd, and Lemon was hailed the best Primagista as voted by the fans. 

Long story short but anyway, I hope you'll appreciate my interpretation of the top three Primagistas as livery designs for my three favorite German sports cars. If you need share codes, here goes.

- Waccha PriMagi! Lemon Kokoa
  Car: 2021 BMW M4 Competition Coupe
  Share Code: 901 121 562

- Waccha PriMagi! Auru Omega
  Car: 2021 Audi RS e-tron GT
  Share Code: 163 280 712

- Waccha Primagi! Miruki Amauri
  Car: 2018 Audi TT RS
  Share Code: 133 775 705

Anyway, with the best three Primagistas on wheels getting dressed to impress, it's time to give this trio a series of challenges they can take on. The Audi TT RS, with its quattro all-wheel-drive system, will be tackling a rally stage against a pack of her...admirers. The fully-electric Audi RS e-tron GT, meanwhile, will be battling through a twisty road course while dealing with the bulk of its weight, and the G82 BMW M4 takes on a twisted night race against a swarm of her fans. Initiate the latter half of Operation Horizon Music Hour.





An explosive mix of Electro Remix, Cherry Sugar, and Radiant Abyss. The ideal cocktail of an adventure they'll never forget, especially for the soon-to-be-euthanized Audi TT.





As the M4 and the e-tron GT went through separate ways, leaving only me and the TT, it's time for me to have my last word with the Audi TT now that it served its purpose in a Waccha way.

How do I say this...oh yeah. After 25 years, the Audi TT is forever a staple to Audi's progressive values with its technology and tradition driven by instinct, and as the end draws near for this game-changing coupester, rest assured that it has left an everlasting mark in the history of Audi. An inspiration to us all.

Man, what a date night it turned out for the TT, seeking friends at the end of its lifespan while saving the last dance for her. Happy ending.

Auf Wiedersehen, Audi TT...

Monday, July 10, 2023

My GT7 Log: The Audi TT - Then and Now

The Audi TT is now 25 years old and as the sleek and stylish sports car is in its death throes, it's time to take a trip back memory lane in Gran Turismo 7, showcasing the making of the Audi TT with the first one and the last one.


Here they are, the first and the last generation Audi TT getting along as the nameplate recently celebrated its 25th anniversary since its 1998 launch. As the world bids goodbye to the Audi TT, let's get to know more about the car that changed Audi's designs forever from the first chapter to the final chapter.


Launched in 1998, the first-generation Audi TT stays faithful to the concept car as seen at the 1995 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show. Named after the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man, the TT has set the template for Audi's designs and innovations. The choice of engines ranges from the ones used by the fourth-generation Volkswagen Golf as well as the 3.2L V6 petrol engine, seen here, that produces 239HP of power, while mated to a twin-clutch DSG gearbox, an Audi first. Early models featured a spoiler-free rear view, which caused a lot of highway crashes, forcing Audi to recall the first batch to attach a rear spoiler for added downforce.


Launched in 2014, the third and final generation Audi TT borrows styling from its big brother, the Audi R8 while utilizing the MQB platform from every VW Group vehicle of today, and because of the next-generation Audi Space Frame, it's surprisingly lighter than the second-generation model, and with Audi's signature quattro permanent all-wheel drive, it's capable through different road conditions, be it rain or shine. 

Seen here is the TT S, the one that served as the starter in GT SPORT. The TT S is powered by a 2.0L TFSi petrol engine that produces 310PS of power output while mated with a choice of either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed flappy paddle that can do 0-100kph in 4.6 seconds and a top speed limited to 250kph.


With the first and the final chapter got their first impressions, it's time to give the Audi TT story the proper send-off it deserves and with that, I'm off to the Nurburgring GP circuit to witness its evolution.



So, how much progress did the Audi TT make starting from the first one to the last one? Let's roll the tape and find out.


And now the results...

Audi TT Coupe 3.2 quattro '03 - 2m37.497s

Audi TTS Coupe '14 - 2m26.833s

25 years on the road and the Audi TT has grown to the fit of peak from its not-so-humble beginnings to its glorious final form the world has ever witnessed.


Technology and Tradition, this is what the Audi TT showcased, earning the "Driven by instinct" tagline since its 1998 debut. 25 years later, the TT is forever a staple to Audi's progressive values. Although sad to see it go away, its game-changing legacy will be remembered for many generations to come.


Auf Wiedersehen, Audi TT...

Thursday, July 6, 2023

My FH5 Log: UNSCRIPTED

Do you remember the episode from The Grand Tour where the third-generation Audi TT RS and the Ariel Nomad got compared by Clarkson and Hammond while May's busy making his own fire engine? That's unscripted television to you and me but hey, the TT RS ended up being the better one compared to the Nomad, probably because of the "unscripted" finish line's cheering on Clarkson.


Bringing the "unscripted" rivalry to Forza Horizon 5, the Ariel Nomad and the third-generation Audi TT RS are here to settle the score once again just like what they did in Croatia, only without the lady rooting for the gorilla behind the Audi.

But first, let's get to know about these "unscripted" rivals...


Built by the makers of the mind-blowing Atom, the Nomad is basically the Atom's off-road cousin made to tackle the roughest roads on Planet Earth. Like the normal Atom, the Nomad's equipped with the same Honda 2.4L i-VTEC engine producing 235BHP of power and 300Nm of torque while mated to a 6-speed close ratio gearbox. Because it weighs 670kg, its power-to-weight ratio is 6.25lb/hp. It will do 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds and onwards to 125mph. Aside from that, the Nomad comes with a FOX off-road long-travel coilover suspension, hydraulic handbrake, four-piston calipers, adjustable dampers with remote reservoirs, double unequal-length fabricated wishbones, heavy-duty uprights, quick-ratio ally Rack & Pinion, and others.


The TT RS is the flagship variant of the third-generation Audi TT that is powered by the upgraded version of the 2.5L five-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 60PS more than the previous TT RS, making it 400PS of power output and 480Nm of torque. Mated to a 7-speed DCT, the TT RS is capable of hitting the 0-100kph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of up to 280kph thanks to its optional extra.



With Bob the Builder and the air hostess having their say, it's time to bring these two on a rally stage...above the caldera, just to find out if they're just like their stint at The Grand Tour a few years ago, only this time without a pretty lady to root for the Audi. This is a proper finish line with a proper audience watching the two unscripted rivals do their thing.

Let's Go!


With a case of deja vu done, here are the results, and it's a close one, I believe...

Nomad - 0m54.788s 

TT RS (8S) - 0m54.521s

Now that's a close result but hey, the Audi won the unscripted duel against the Ariel, just.


From the rugged rear-wheel-drive Nomad to the all-wheel-drive turbocharged TT RS, these unscripted rivals were proven to be great to drive on and off the road but in the end, it's the Audi the superior one because...it's an Audi. No explanations are needed. I guess Clarkson's right after all about the TT RS but...something tells me about this Audi. I wonder what it could be?

I'll figure it out soon because there's something about this TT...

Monday, October 23, 2017

GT SPORT: First ride

With the latest Gran Turismo making its debut on the PS4, looks like I am now back to the writing board to talk about the cars of this newest title and how they impress me not just by their looks but by how they react or feel on the track. First up, let's look at the car I obtained on my first day of gameplay with GT SPORT.

20171017160830

Sorry, a little dark with this picture but bear with me folks because this is the car I got on my first day of GT SPORT gameplay. It's the Audi TTS, a semi-high-performance variant of the third-generation Audi TT.

What is it then? The TT S is powered by a 2.0L TFSi petrol engine that produces 310PS of power output while mated with a choice of either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed flappy paddle that can do 0-100kph in 4.6 seconds and a top speed limited to 250kph. Apart from the power, the third generation TT S utilizes the MQB platform from every VW Group vehicle of today, and because of the next-generation Audi Space Frame, it's surprisingly lighter than the previous TT S model, and with Audi's signature quattro permanent all-wheel drive, it's capable through different road conditions, be it rain or shine.

20171017160844

It's quite surprising that everyone who's starting GT SPORT for the first time gets their hands on this but let's not get too excited because this car can get bitey because of its understeering nature. Despite this, the Audi TT S is a nice starting point for those who want to sample the twists and turns of the tracks offered on GT SPORT. It can be mild and tangy but it's the start of many things to come in GT SPORT.

So, care to see what I did with this on the Tokyo highways? Let's roll the tape and thank goodness, I made my first GT SPORT clip for this post.



20171017160857

Mild as I said but the TT S knows how to impress a beginner before setting off to check out some more cars and tracks offered in-game. Needless to say, before you head off to the big leagues, why not take some time to discover the cars and tracks in GT SPORT?  There's so much to discover before getting ready for the race of your lives so take your time before you raise a hand for a challenge.

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Audi TT Mk3 (Typ 8S) RS

The most powerful version of the Audi TT is back for more, only this time it's now heavily based on the current-generation model as the all-new Audi TT RS is ready to take on the big guns with its blend of compact sizing and big power from its signature five-cylinder engine, proving that this car isn't just a VW Golf R in coupster look, it's one way why Audi makes the most serious machines for those who can't afford a more expensive R8 supercar. The question is, is it good?

2017 Audi TT RS

Before you get your hands on the new Audi TT RS, first you must get to know more about the TT RS in terms of how it looks, how it behaves, and so on, and so forth, and introduce yourself to the hot TT RS is just the half of the story. For this new model, the TT RS offers two body styles to choose from; an open-top version if you're not too serious about pushing this car beyond limits or a hardtop version if you really want to discover its utmost potential as a hot TT for the privileged few. Whichever style you go, you will always be greeted by its racy exterior design just as what you expect from most Audi RS models, hardcore Audis made by the madmen from quattro GmbH for people who believe they like to make a world their racetrack by any means necessary.

It's fair to say that with such exterior design, the new TT RS has a striking impression of a Soviet-made handgun that sounds like the banging of a gong on a dam, and if whoever's driving any kind of TT, even the TT S, will be extremely jealous enough to have one of these someday but that will take a lot of time to wait until it's here, or the budget to spend one because the new model starts at 66,400 Euros for the Coupe version and 69,200 Euros for the Roadster version.

Either way, they're still fitted with its signature 2.5L 5-cylinder engine as before, only this time it's all new and producing 60PS more than the last time, meaning it's now 400PS of power and 480Nm of torque. Sounds juicy enough to put the VW Golf R to shame but there's one major point that will upset some speedo boys elsewhere; it's available only with a 7-speed DSG gearbox. That's it. A 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Even with all that power, you speedo boys are not going to enjoy the paddle-shifting, two-pedal layout offered by the most powerful TT in the range, not if that setup propels this car from 0 to 100kph to 3.7 seconds (3.9 for the Roadster) and electronically limited to 250kph (or 280kph for an optional extra).

For all that power, Audi resorts to improving the dynamics of the TT RS to give the new model some character hidden beneath its exterior design. Despite having an automatic gearbox, which sounds unruly for speedo boys, there's so much time to explore more about the TT RS's dynamism that the folks from quattro GmbH spent endless hours fine-tuning its racy handling for your own driving pleasure. As a four-wheel drive car, the TT RS can be a fun and enjoyable sportscar even when the weather turns against the drivers. It sure is addicting at first but when things are taking it very seriously when it comes to driving it on track days, it's a struggle where its unpredictable understeering acts as a recoil from your steering attack through the harsh bends. Needless to say with that kind of character, you'll gonna need to spend lots and lots of man-hours to get its handling right on track until the day comes when setting lap times in this car becomes as clear as a crystal maze.

As a driver's car, the Audi TT RS is an addictive addition to your garage and you can spend most of the vacation leave getting to know more about this car not in terms of how it looks but by the way it drives with that kind of setup, despite its added power from its signature five-cylinder engine, you can find it very struggling to be accommodated to its double-clutch gearbox set up because some speedo boys won't go easy with the DSG setup, no matter how quick this car is from the starting line. On the bottom line, there's so much to learn from the new model, in fact, this model needs to be more enjoyable than this so speedo boys can deserve more for the hottest TT ever made.

Photo: Audi AG