Surprise! Audi Will Transform The TT Into A Four-Door Coupe

Does this move signal the death of sports cars?

Sports cars have become a dying segment, which is why many automakers have focused on building more profitable SUVs. Audi continues to carry on building two sports cars, the TT and R8, though the R8 may die off after the current generation. In a surprise bit of news, the Audi TT may die off as well within the next two years, at least in its current form. According to Auto Express, the next-generation TT will be completely overhauled with a new, more practical four-door coupe body style.

Back in 2014 at the Paris Motor Show, Audi showed off a concept version of a four-door TT called the TT Sportback Concept. The concept looked a lot like a standard TT, albeit with some subtle styling changes and of course, two extra doors. We actually loved the concept when we saw it in Paris and wished Audi had put it into production. Audi claimed there wasn't enough customer demand, but there was a much larger reason why the car never reached production.

Sadly, the concept was unveiled right as Dieselgate became a massive cost for the VW Group, forcing it to cut a number of projects across its brands. However, now that Dieselgate is behind Audi, the company has reportedly greenlit the four-door TT for production.

Unfortunately, the four-door TT will act as a direct replacement for the coupe and convertible body style and won't be sold alongside them as we would have originally predicted. Audi simply sees the writing on the wall for the sports car segment and will pivot away from it. Speaking to Auto Express, and Audi executive said "If you set falling demand against rising costs, it’s obvious Audi cannot sustain its present course in the medium term. Instead, there has been intensive consideration of the coupe and the convertible in the compact segment.”

We aren't exactly happy to see the coupe and convertible go away but at least they are being replaced with a sporty four-door coupe. Unlike the current TT, the new model will feature a mild-hybrid and possibly a plug-in hybrid drivetrain when it arrives in showrooms two years from now.

Audi A3 Liftback Could Be Instead Of Rumored Four-Door TT?

Forget a TT four-door. An A3 liftback is far more likely.

Twenty years ago we were limited to the usual sedans and convertibles from German automakers like Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Fast-forward to today and they have introduced a bewildering permutation of body styles that we can now pick from. The latest news from Autocar claims Audi is planning a five-door liftback model for its next-generation A3 range, which is due in 2020.

The rumored plans to introduce a four-door TT meanwhile have been dropped and while some have suggested that this new model may be a replacement for the slow-selling two-seater sports car, this is not going to be the case.

Instead, it will form part of the next generation A3 range and take on the upcoming BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLA. This variant may be called the 3 Sportback to link it with the larger A5 Sportback, although this may cause a bit of head-scratching. Remember, this name is already used for the five-door A3 hatchback sold in Europe.

Either way, the added practicality of the new liftback five-door model will quite likely endear it to those looking for something compact and sporty but not wanting to go the predictable crossover route.

As you might expect, the roadmap for the next A3 has already been laid out, and aside from the base 1.4-liter gasoline and 2.0-liter diesel derivatives (models we are unlikely to get in the US) there will also be a 2.0-liter turbocharged S3 liftback which should offer around 300 horsepower.

The characterful 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo motor will also be fitted to RS3 models, including the liftback, and will make at least 400 hp. Of course, the hatchback, convertible, and sedan will also be on offer (only the latter will likely be sold here) and a 48V electric system will be fitted to certain derivatives to provide some mild hybrid capabilities. There will also be an updated e-tron model with the company’s latest plug-in hybrid tech as well as an all-electric version a few years down the line.

Audi A3 Liftback Could Be Instead Of Rumored Four-Door TT?

Forget a TT four-door. An A3 liftback is far more likely.

Twenty years ago we were limited to the usual sedans and convertibles from German automakers like Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Fast-forward to today and they have introduced a bewildering permutation of body styles that we can now pick from. The latest news from Autocar claims Audi is planning a five-door liftback model for its next-generation A3 range, which is due in 2020.

The rumored plans to introduce a four-door TT meanwhile have been dropped and while some have suggested that this new model may be a replacement for the slow-selling two-seater sports car, this is not going to be the case.

Instead, it will form part of the next generation A3 range and take on the upcoming BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLA. This variant may be called the 3 Sportback to link it with the larger A5 Sportback, although this may cause a bit of head-scratching. Remember, this name is already used for the five-door A3 hatchback sold in Europe.

Either way, the added practicality of the new liftback five-door model will quite likely endear it to those looking for something compact and sporty but not wanting to go the predictable crossover route.

As you might expect, the roadmap for the next A3 has already been laid out, and aside from the base 1.4-liter gasoline and 2.0-liter diesel derivatives (models we are unlikely to get in the US) there will also be a 2.0-liter turbocharged S3 liftback which should offer around 300 horsepower.

The characterful 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo motor will also be fitted to RS3 models, including the liftback, and will make at least 400 hp. Of course, the hatchback, convertible, and sedan will also be on offer (only the latter will likely be sold here) and a 48V electric system will be fitted to certain derivatives to provide some mild hybrid capabilities. There will also be an updated e-tron model with the company’s latest plug-in hybrid tech as well as an all-electric version a few years down the line.