Believe it or not, the Audi TT is now 20 years old. Audi felt that this was a good time to refresh the third generation of its small coupe.

New looks

The TT’s facelift, fittingly, starts with its face. The front features Audi’s three-dimensional single-frame radiator grille, which is flanked by large side air inlets.

A newly designed, optional S line exterior package includes a full-length front splitter, vertical air inlets, a radiator grille in titanium black and specific side sills with inserts as well as a sporty rear end. At the rear there is a wider diffuser and vertical air inlets below the rear lights with three horizontal fins each.

All TT models are fitted with 17-inch wheels as standard. If those look a little weedy then you can ask for Audi or Audi Sport optional items that are available in 18-, 19- and 20-inch diameter. The revised TT features three new hues for the exterior: cosmos blue, pulse orange and turbo blue (S line only).

Same power

Audi has not announced any upgrade for the powertrain of the new model. The staple of the VW family, a 2,0-litre turbopetrol remains and, as does the larger 2,5-litre fire-breather that resides in the TT RS. All SA-bound TT models are fitted as standard with the firm’s dual-clutch transmission.

Click here to read about an Audi A8 track car that we drove.

New inside

Basic spec has been lifted and all derivatives feature Audi’s virtual cockpit, the basic version of the new model now features the Audi drive select dynamic handling system, a rain and light sensor, heated exterior mirrors and the multifunction steering wheel plus, with which the infotainment and voice control system can be controlled entirely using the steering wheel. Also standard are the illuminated USB ports as well as Bluetooth for wireless pairing of devices.

The full-colour 12,3-inch display of the Audi virtual cockpit boasts two modes. In the ‘classic’ setting, the speedometer and tachometer take centre stage. In ‘infotainment’ mode, content such as the navigation ­map is enlarged.

The MMI terminal on the facia has just six keys. The top-of-the-line MMI navigation plus with MMI touch integrates a touchpad on the upper surface of the rotary/push-button control that recognizes handwritten input and allows zooming, for example. The voice control system understands formulations from everyday speech.

Take a closer look at the refreshed TT models by clicking here for a video, which looks very much like it was shot in the Western Cape.