AUDI TT, TAKE II; A fresh look and a smooth V6 make the new TT a car to cherish.(News)

Byline: Greg Kable

"Style over substance'' could describe the first-generation Audi TT. Despite its jaw-dropping, Bauhaus-inspired looks, it was not a truly great drive. Memorable-yes-if only for all the attention that rounded coupe garnered.

As sports cars go, there were clearly better choices, and not just because of the TT's early high-speed stability problems. The Audi boasted an eager range of engines and optional all-wheel drive, but that first TT lacked finesse. Its tactile messages were gagged by numb steering, inconsistent handling and a less-than-composed ride. Building the TT from the roots of the fourth-generation Volkswagen Golf didn't help, either.

Audi got that message and has spared little to ensure this new TT can mount a challenge to the BMW Z4 Coupe, Mercedes-Benz SLK, Nissan 350Z and Porsche Cayman when North American sales start in April 2007.

Say what you like about the styling, but there is no mistaking the TT's lineage. The heavily rounded cues remain integral, but they have been refined to give the new model fresh appeal. If the early production example is any guide, this time the TT not only delivers looks, it is a much better driving car, too. Yes, it is a car the keenest drivers will cherish.

The new TT is vastly different from its predecessor, most notably in the way it is constructed: Based around a lightweight aluminum space frame, the body is a mix of steel and aluminum; steel is also used in the floorpan at the rear to improve weight distribution, which Audi puts at 58:42 front/rear.

The primary target was to reduce weight, and the range-topping 3.2-liter V6 model, at 3146 pounds complete with awd and Audi's new double-clutch S-tronic gearbox, is more than 100 pounds lighter than the car it replaces. What's more, the weight is concentrated lower, so the TT has a better center of gravity, something Audi development chief Ulrich Hackenberg says is key to improved handling.