HoTTer “Hairdryer”

Audi’s new topless TT is proof that sheer style and shiok driving pleasure need not be mutually exclusive.

Chopping off a car’s roof, if you didn’t already know by now, does bad things to a car. A wobbly chassis (also known as scuttle shake), poor sound insulation and limited boot space are just some of the negative traits that plague a typical convertible.

What you get in return, though, is a flair factor turned up to 11 and greatly increased look-at-me cachet. Well, most of the time anyway – remember the hideous Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible?

At the other end of the “unsightly” scale is Audi’s new-generation TT Roadster. When I drove the coupe version in Spain last year, I loved it. With its sharper looks, improved dynamics and, thanks to Audi’s state-of-the-art Virtual Cockpit, the best dashboard/infotainment system this side of the Starship Enterprise, the TT has a whiff of “driver’s car” about it. Will going alfresco dilute the coupe’s rewarding driving experience?

To read the rest of this article, get a copy of the March 2015 issue of Torque!

1.    Get the latest issue of Torque to discover the latest cars and enjoy the greatest car features.
2.    Torque, published by SPH Magazines, is available at all newsstands now, and on tablet (www.torque.com.sg/subscription)
3.    David Ting is the editor of Torque magazine by SPH Magazines.
4.    Check out more stories at Torque online at www.torque.com.sg.

Also, check out the March 2015 issue for these stories:

Prickly Sensation
 The Cactus, Citroen’s latest entry-level model for Singapore, is one of the most interesting hatchbacks ever

Suburban Athletes
 We drive the Suzuki S-Cross AllGrip 1.6, Nissan Qashqai 1.2 and Subaru XV 1.6 to find the compact crossover that best complements the lifestyle of an active suburbanite

High On Coasting
The writer and her family were excited to hit the scenic Pacific Coast Highway between San Francisco and Los Angeles