(Fri 09 Apr 10)

Audi has given details of the 2011 revisions to the TT sports car. There are a few interior and exterior styling revisions - just enough to make it clear that and update has taken place - but the more interesting changes have taken place out of sight.

For example, the power output of the 2.0 TFSI turbo petrol engine has been boosted from 198bhp to 208bhp, which means improvements in the top speed and 0-62mph time to 152mph and 6.1 seconds respectively, the previous version having managed 149mph and 6.6 seconds. However, combined fuel economy and CO2 emissions have also improved, to 42.8mpg and 154g/km (the latter figure leading to a £75 saving in annual VED and a £175 reduction in the first-year tax).

The economy and CO2 situation is helped largely by a recuperation system which recovers energy lost when braking or coasting, and it has also been applied to the 1.8 TFSI petrol and 2.0 TDI turbo diesel engines, resulting in a claimed efficiency improvement of 14%.

Audi has also added an efficiency program to the trip computer, which now shows economy-related information on the display screen, advises the driver on when to change gear and even shows how vehicle systems (such as the air-conditioning) are affecting fuel consumption.

On another matter entirely, the Sport button which has been standard on the TT RS since its launch last year is now available as an option on all other TTs fitted with magnetic ride suspension. Choosing Sport mode reduces the power assistance for the steering, sharpens up the exhaust note and, on manual-transmission cars, increases the accelerator pedal sensitivity.

The choice of trim levels has been, in Audi's word, "simplified", which is to say reduced. The standard trim now applies only to the 1.8 TFSI Roadster, which can be upgraded to Sport or S line at extra cost. All other models are Sports unless the customer wishes to upgrade to S line.

Finally, the TT RS, which has so far been available only with a six-speed manual gearbox, is to become available with the seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch semi-automatic transmission known elsewhere in the Volkswagen Group as DSG. It takes 0.2 seconds off the 0-62mph time (now down to 4.4 seconds for the Coupé), though it doesn't affect the top speed, which is already limited to 155mph or - at extra cost - 174mph.

Prices have not yet been confirmed for the new range, but we expect that to happen in the near future.

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