Audi’s 408-horsepower TT Offroad concept is a mean (and green) plug-in sports car

By Stephen Edelstein Published April 21, 2014

Audi announced a couple of weeks ago that it would bring a TT-based crossover concept to the 2014 Beijing Motor Show, but who knew it would be so … yellow?

If it makes it to production with that vibrant hue, the Audi TT Offroad concept could be the perfect car for people still mourning the loss of the Subaru Baja and its optional bright-yellow paint.

However, the TT Offroad promises to be a bit sportier. As advertised, it’s a 2015 TT sports car with four doors, a rear hatch, and more ground clearance. Audi says it represents a possible way to turn the TT into a family of vehicles, as seen with the Toyota Prius and Land Rover Range Rover.

The concept looks about as good as a five-door TT hatchback could, with much of the sports car’s sleek lines preserved, particularly in that in-your-face front end. The body cladding looks like it was taken straight off the Audi Allroad wagon.

While any of the 2015 TT’s powertrains could fit under the hood, Audi went the extra mile and gave the TT Offroad a plug-in hybrid system.

It consists of: the stock TT’s 2.0-liter TFSI turbocharged four-cylinder engine, an electric motor sandwiched between the flywheel and the S tronic six-speed dual-clutch transmission, a second, rear-mounted electric motor, and a lithium-ion battery pack.

All of that equipment produces a total of 408 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, which should give this little crossover plenty of pep. Audi estimates fuel economy at a stupendous 123.8 mpg, although it’s unclear which rating system it used to come up with that number.

Audi is pretty hot for plug-in powertrains right now, but it’s unclear whether the TT Offroad will make it to production. If it does, it may wear Q4 badging, making it the sporty alternative to the Q3 and Q5, and putting it in direct competition with the 2015 BMW X4.

Topics

Photo Galleries

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Mini’s infotainment system is very charming, but still needs work

Main screen of the Mini infotainment system

When you think Mini, you probably don’t think of infotainment. Personally, I think of the British flag taillights, the distinct exterior, and the surprising room on the inside. But after driving the Mini John Cooper Works Countryman over the past week, infotainment might well be something I think of more often when it comes to Mini. It’s charming.

It also, however, suffers from all the traps that other legacy automakers fall into when it comes to software design. Mini has something on its hands here — but it still needs some work.
Bringing the charm
The first thing that stood out to me about the system when I got in the car was how fun it was. That all starts with the display. It’s round! No, it’s not curved — the screen is a big, round display sits in at 9.4 inches, and I found it plenty large enough for day-to-day use.

Cars

Plug-in hybrids are becoming more popular. Why? And will it continue?

Kia Niro EV Charging Port

There's a lot of talk about the idea that the growth in electric car sales has kind of slowed a little. It's not all that surprising -- EVs are still expensive, early adopters all have one by now, and they're still new enough to where there aren't too many ultra-affordable used EVs available. But plenty of people still want a greener vehicle, and that has given rise to an explosion in hybrid vehicle sales.

That's especially true of plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can be charged like an EV and driven in all-electric mode for short distances, and have a gas engine as a backup for longer distances or to be used in combination with electric mode for more efficient driving.

Cars

EV drivers are not going back to gas cars, global survey says

ev drivers are not going back to gas cars global survey says screenshot

Nearly all current owners of electric vehicles (EVs) are either satisfied or very satisfied with the experience, and 92% of them plan to buy another EV, according to a survey by the Global EV Drivers Alliance.

The survey of 23,000 EV drivers worldwide found that only 1% would return to a petrol or diesel car, while 4% would opt for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) if they had to replace their car.