When Audi introduced the TT as a coupe for the 2000 model year and a roadster for 2001, the German luxury maker wasn't aiming at big sales numbers. Rather, Audi was looking to add some spice to its image. The TT was never a breakout seller, but Audi considered it successful in its own right, and the sporty image it gave the company was felt across all model lines. When it was first introduced, the TT's rounded look and geometric shapes were unlike anything on the road. It was well-received, and the design solidified the TT as a choice for those who wanted something different.

Audi has done a fine job of making the new TT an evolution of the old. The 2008 Audi TT is sharper than the previous model, with more angular lines and crisper edges.

Audi's single bar grille, the new corporate face, is black plastic on 2008 Audi TT 2.0T models and painted gloss black on 3.2 quattros. The side of the car features a character line that leads to prominent wheel flares. The coupe's graceful roofline resolves into a rounded rear end, giving the TT a hint of Porsche 911 styling. Rather than opting for a convertible hardtop, which is all the rage these days, Audi has chosen a traditional soft top for roadsters. Both body styles have a mechanical spoiler that pops up at 75 mph and retracts at 50 mph. An interior button allows you to deploy or retract the spoiler at any time.

At 164.5 inches long and 72.5 inches wide, the Audi TT fits right in the heart of the premium sports car segment. It is longer and wider than the BMW Z4 and Mercedes-Benz SLK. It is more than six inches shorter than the Porsche Boxster and Cayman, but is still a more than an inch wider. These dimensions give the TT decent cargo and passenger volume and contribute to fine handling characteristics.

Below the surface, the TT is all new for 2008. It uses the fourth generation of the Audi Space Frame (ASF) architecture. Audi says the space frame is made of cast, extruded, and stamped steel and aluminum components, as opposed to a traditional unibody structure that has only steel stampings. The coupe's space frame is 69 percent aluminum and the roadster's is 58 percent aluminum. The roadster is reinforced behind the seats to make up for the rigidity lost due to the lack of a top. Audi claims the new coupe is 50 percent more rigid than the last model, and the roadster is 120 percent stronger. Audi says the new-generation roadster is more rigid than the last coupe, an impressive claim.

The base roadster's top is manually operated, but most TTs will come with the power top. The power top is extremely easy to use. There are no latches to work, and it opens in 12 seconds and closes in 14. For those sudden weather changes, the power top can be operated while the car is moving as fast as 25 mph, a handy feature.