Audi held a ceremony in Berlin yesterday evening to unveil the second-generation Audi TT. A bizarre 10-tonne sculpture of the new car was first of all revealed before a pair of new Audi TT coupes were driven into view and pored over by the assembled guests and press. Interestingly, Audi had secured the services of some world-class footballers for the event and they smiled for the cameras and looked interested in the new car. Is the new coupe to be a footballers' car or will it continue to be the choice of the masses?

The Audi TT shape is a full eight years old, but it is still distinctive despite the huge sales success. As you can see from the photographs, Audi has taken no chances with its replacement. At a glance, you'd be forgiven for thinking that not much has changed, but the new TT is an all-new car. At the front, the rounded bonnet has made way for sharper lines and the latest Audi face including the elongated grille. The Audi Shooting Brake concept displayed at the Tokyo Show last year previewed the headlight and front wing shapes, though the production car features a more conventional fastback and a neat automatic rear spoiler that deploys above 120km/h (74.6mph).

In side profile, the new TT looks a lot longer than the slightly stubby original, though the new car is actually only 137mm longer overall. Other dimension changes include a 78mm increase in width. With any luck this will translate into more usable rear seats.

Not that many coupe buyers really expect too much practicality. Of more importance will be how the new Audi TT drives. Audi claims that the new car is even more dynamic than the original. To begin with, the range is limited to a front-wheel drive model using the turbocharged 2-litre engine from the VW Golf GTi and a quattro version powered by the same 250bhp 3.2-litre V6 we tested in 2004. As yet, it is unclear whether the quattro system will be tuned for rear biased torque as with the Audi RS4.

Thanks to extensive use of aluminium, the 2-litre TT model is as quick to 62mph as the outgoing V6 car (6.4 seconds), with the new V6 hitting the same mark in just 5.7 seconds. Speaking of aluminium, at first glance there does not appear to be anywhere near as much of the stuff in the new car's interior. The press release even mentions "aluminium look." One of the best aspects of the original TT was its fantastic interior. The new car's cockpit has been suitably updated, retaining the circular theme, but hopefully there is real aluminium on the UK models. On the plus side, all versions will be fitted with a gorgeous leather-wrapped flat-bottomed steering wheel.

Prices have yet to be announced, but hopefully British buyers will get to see the new Audi TT in the metal at the 2006 British Motor Show held in London this July.

Shane O' Donoghue - 7 Apr 2006