Cars.com
April 28, 2006
Vehicle Overview
Audi's TT sports car has aged surprisingly well since its 2000 model year U.S. debut and is still a head-turning design despite the influx of outlandishly styled models. A redesigned TT is on its way, however, and should hit U.S. dealerships next spring as a 2008 model.

Longer and wider than the first-generation TT, the 2008 TT Coupй uses Audi's Aluminum Space Frame technology and is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a V-6. Redesigned TT roadsters debut later.

Ex terior
The 2008 TT sports Audi's new trapezoidal grille, which bisects the front bumper. The slit-like headlights and lower grille styling lend the TT a sinister appearance. Like the current TT, the 2008 version has a gracefully arching roofline. Wheels as large as 19 inches in diameter are available.

The TT's body is 69 percent aluminum and 31 percent steel, with the steel pieces located at the back of the car for optimal weight distribution. The new TT Coupй also features one of the latest trends in sports cars: a powered spoiler that deploys when the car hits 75 mph.

Interior
Though ostensibly a four-person sports car, the TT Coupй has front bucket seats and a small rear seat. The large rear hatch opens to reveal a cargo area about 10 cubic feet in size that grows to about 25 cubic feet when the rear seats are lowered. Audi says the TT Coupй can carry two golf bags.

The driver faces two large round gauges behind a flat-bottom multifunction steering wheel. Metal pedals are used, and the manual gearshift is positioned comfortably within reach of the driver and moves through the gears with little resistance. Round vents are trimmed in aluminum; automatic climate control and a CD stereo are standard. A navigation system is optional.

Under the Hood
The TT's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine makes 200 horsepower and drives the front wheels while the available 3.2-liter V-6 generates 250 hp and drives all four wheels via Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system. A six-speed manual transmission is standard and a six-speed sequential manual transmission dubbed "S tronic" (previously known as Direct Shift Gearbox) is optional. V-6-powered TT Coupйs can accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 5.7 seconds while the turbocharged four-cylinder TT takes 6.4 seconds.

Safety
Standard features include side-impact and side curtain-type airbags, antilock brakes and an electronic stability system.

Cars.com
September 6, 2007
Vehicle Overview
A brand-new front-wheel-drive sport sedan joined the lineup of Honda's luxury division as an early 2004 model. Slotted between the RSX sport coupe and the midsize TL luxury-performance sedan, the compact TSX four-door was similar to the European version of the Honda Accord. The TSX received a modest makeover for 2006, and nothing has changed for 2008. Competitors include the Audi A4, BMW 325i and Lexus IS 250.

A high-revving four-cylinder engine is standard. It produces 205 horsepower.

Exterior
Like so many manufacturers today, Acura promotes the sport sedan's aggressive appearance. High-intensity-discharge headlights flank Acura's familiar five-sided grille. These xenon lights sit above lower air intakes that suggest racing brake ducts. The back window slopes into a short trunklid, whose sharp termination is intended to help air separate cleanly from the rear of the car at highway speeds. A power moonroof is standard.

Nine-spoke alloy wheels hold 17-inch V-rated all-season performance tires. Measuring 183.3 inches long overall and 57.3 inches tall, the TSX has a four-wheel-independent double-wishbone suspension with a multilink configuration in the rear. Trunk capacity totals 13 cubic feet.

Interior
The interior features deeply bolstered seats that are upholstered in perforated leather. A three-spoke leather-wrapped sport steering wheel contains integrated audio and cruise controls. Dual-zone automatic climate control, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel and keyless entry are standard, and the eight-speaker 360-watt premium audio system includes a six-CD changer. Acura's optional navigation system can operate with voice recognition; for 2008, that feature is newly available in Hawaii.

Under the Hood
Acura's 2.4-liter four-cylinder generates 205 hp at 7,000 rpm and 164 pounds-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm.

Either a close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed automatic with a manual-shift provision can be installed.

Safety
Side curtain airbags and all-disc antilock brakes are standard. Side-impact airbags include a passenger-sensing system. An electronic stability system is also included.

Driving Impressions
Finding fault with the TSX isn't easy, but it feels more like a family car than a sporty four-door companion to the RSX. The manual-shift TSX accelerates eagerly, and its gearshift glides smoothly between ratios.

This sedan is exceptionally quiet and easy to drive, and it maneuvers with satisfying behavior. Unlike some sport sedans, the TSX delivers a relatively gentle ride on smooth surfaces. But on urban pavement, potholes produce substantial reactions and the ride gets stiff with considerable body movement. The seats offer excellent support, and the bright gauges are easy to read.