The new Audi TT a Cayman basher? That's a little hard to swallow for us!

TT is a chick car, not even right to compare to a Porsche, any of them.

Actually a lot of boxters are driven by women.

Whether or not it is on par with Boxter or Caymen, it is still under the same segment. It all depends on the weight of the new TT, hp and their suspension set up. If it is as amazing as the RS4, then we've got a game. It all depends on how they would want to market the TT.

BTW isn't Audi, Porsche and Lambo under VW? (given how Cayenne=Torreq (sp) = Q7 (sharing the same platforms? and the new S8 or RS8 uses a modified lambo engine.) If this is true, then the TT will be placed stragetically to fill in the gaps for Boxter/Caymen for those who doesn't want to flash themselves and still wants preformance/handling&design

Audi, Porsche, Lambo:

- Audi is its own independantly managed company.

- Audi owns Lambo.

- Audi is a sister company to VW, but they split technology and management divisions a few years ago.

- Porsche bought 20% of VW stock to prevent an outside hostile takeover that would have spelt disaster for both Porsche and VW.

TT vs. Cayman

The new TT has everything (with one exception, to be mentioned later) going for it to beat the Cayman.

1- The new TT's space frame is 69% aluminum, mostly towards the front. So it's light and well balanced.

2- The TT has a magnetic suspension option.

3- The new TT is vastly more dynamic than the outgoing model, with a lower center of gravity and 50% more body rigidity. All reports coming in are saying that it handles exceptionally well.

4- The new TT has S-Tronic (DSG); something Porsche can't touch.

5- The new TT has received unanimous raves for its looks in the press. Public surveys have also placed it at the top design polls.

6- The new TT's interior has a far higher grade of workmanship and design.

7- Real-world straight-line acceleration is actually rumored to be around 5.4 seconds.

8- It's less expensive, but more refined; at least subjectively.

So, it actually looks like the new TT does have a good chance at rivaling the Cayman.

However, there is one problem with the new TT: It's Haldex quattro.

Unlike the RS4, which has the world's best AWD system in the form of rear-biased Torsen quattro, the new TT has front-biased Haldex quattro. It will be the last new platform Audi that will have Haldex quattro.

Although the new TT now has 15% of default torque sent to the back wheels (unlike the 0% of the outgoing car), it's still a front-biased drive system. Of course, 100% of torque can be sent to either axel when needed, but that still doesn't make it a true rear-drive challenger.

From all reports, the new TT does perform extremely well, but can its neutral-to-light-understeer setup truly rival a rear-drive, oversteering Porsche?

We'll find out soon enough!

I agree that is a pretty bold statement to make about the whole Cayman crushing thing. It will be some time before we get to drive one on this side of the pond so we have to trust in editors of mostly European publications for opinions at this time. I personally love the look of the Cayman over that of the new TT, but then again, there are several cars after seeing them in person I've found quite attractive, most recently was the new M Z4. I could have sworn that car was butt ugly using only 2 dimentions! In person it looks quite graceful.

If and when Audi does an S or RS version, things could get very interesting. Initially we will get only the G rated "girly" versions but eventually the R rated stuff will show up.

I can't see Audi putting anywhere near $65-75K on the window of any version of the TT but who knows? I just hope it doesn't get the reputation of being too much of a chick car in the US before the hot versions arrive, otherwise it could all be a wasted effort for this market.

(they have no innovation in house to speak of)

FSI turbocharged engines. A direct injection engine that is on the list of the world's best engines. Uses direct injection to increase compresion ratio and has a turbocharger. The first engine of its kind. The same concept is employed in the racing R8 that has won Le Mans FIVE times. The world's fastest production car, Bugatti Veyron also has a turbocharged FSI engine. The new "upcoming" BMW 3.0 liter turbocharged engine has that same technology, WHICH AUDI HAD BEFORE BMW.

DSG (S tronic) the gearbox of the future, a manual gearbox that has two clutches to make seamless gear changes. Considered to be the best cluthless gearbox on the market today. Read any automotive review, all say that it is SUPERIOR to BMW's SMG transmission.

Quattro all wheel drive. Audi was the first car company to put all wheel dirve in all of its passenger cars. BMW, MB, Acura, Infinity, and basically everyother manufacturer are the ones that followed Audi and started to make all wheel drive passenger cars.

Sure BMW probably has its own innovations, but it is rediculous to say that Audi has not made any innovative technology.

A Cayman basher...I don't think so, it may be a step up from last generations TT in performance. But Porsche is the best when comes to the smaller sporty coupes. In my personal opinion the BMW Z4 Coupe looks better than either the Cayman or the TT. We'll have to wait for the numbers to see if it's the best in the class.

RS246 hey guy...I drive the wheels off my BMW so let's not generalize so much here okay.

Yes I'm a Porsche guy, but I also think the new Z4 M-COUPE is the REAL Cayman basher. I've driven the M-Roadster and the Cayman both fun but different character. Apples and GREEN Apples I think would apply. My feeling is that for 20k LESS (in Canada) the BMW is going to kick Cayman butt big time. And frankly I hope they do. I strongly dissagree with Porsche's placement of the the Cayman. It should be 1,000 bucks LESS than a Boxter S. The R&D is already done and paid for in the boxter PLUS it doesn't have a convertible top!
Oh, and I think the BMW M-Coupe looks really mean. In a good way!