2012 Audi TT 2.0 TFSI Prestige Coupe

what the Audi TT should be–a high-revving, precise-handling, rock-solid all-wheel-drive sports coupe. I’ve always felt that the front-drive TT roadster was a bit of a poseur, with not enough chassis stiffness and too much front-drive understeer to support its high-charging aspirations. This car, with the fixed roof and well-balanced all-wheel drive, does a great job of exorcising all of the demons and bringing out the car’s devilish character.

In this guise, the TT coupe runs hot and sharp, with plenty of boosted power from the little 2.0-liter turbo four, and great grip, chassis control and steering response from this setup. Purists might cry for a proper clutched manual gearbox, but I’m happy with this dual-clutch tranny. As long as you run it in sport mode, response is quick and direct, with the paddle shifters providing a little extra prodding if necessary.

All in all, in this trim and coupe body style, this is the TT that enthusiasts should be looking for–unless they can get their mitts on an over-the-top TT-RS.

NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: This 2012 Audi TT Prestige coupe is a tight little machine, with excellent reflexes and the looks of a chic flying saucer. It’s fun to look at and drive. Personally, this isn’t exactly the car for me, but it is a hoot to motor around town in style.

It gets attention, especially in this shade of Volcano red, which really does have more than hint of lava hue. I love the wheels, too.

The chassis is tight, but didn’t beat me up. The steering is light on center followed by satisfying response into movements, especially when pushing through a gentle expressway curve at 80 mph with the needle at 2,500 rpm.

I like the cabin, which is laid out smartly, it has a businesslike atmosphere and classy accoutrements. With the windows cracked and the audio cranked to classic rock, the TT was a cathartic commuter.

I was fortunate to get an additional weekend in this sexy coupe, and it made for fun, enthusiastic driving that nicely blended athleticism with comfort. I picked up a few things I didn’t notice in my first one-night stint in this cute sports car, including the quietness of the cabin and the punch of the engine. Obviously, I liked these features during my initial sampling, but there’s some depth to these elements that gets better with more time.

For example, summoning 258 lb-ft of torque at 1,600 rpm is a riot. It gives the driver a copious dose of confidence during passing, merging and other dashing maneuvers. There’s a slight turbo lag, but otherwise this is a potent yet modest engine that works well with the dual-clutch.

Secondly, the cabin is quiet for a car this small. Yes, it’s an Audi and still premium endeavoring, but generally smaller sports cars can make a racket. Not here. The TT’s interior cushioning drowned out a semi next to me and muffled the outside world appropriately. The dials and the flat-bottomed steering do a good job of conveying a sense of athleticism, and the seats fit me perfectly.

I liked this little runner. It’s not for everyone, as some will seek a raw sports-car experience and others will trend toward the larger, more powerful muscle coupes of Detroit. Still, it fills a niche and even wears a bit of a halo for Audi.

2012 Audi TT 2.0 TFSI Prestige Coupe

Base Price: $39,175

As-Tested Price: $48,920

Drivetrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged I4; AWD, six-speed dual-clutch sequential manual

Output: 211 hp @ 4,300-6,000 rpm, 258 lb-ft @ 1,600-4,200 rpm

Curb Weight: 3,153 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 26/25.1 mpg

Options: Prestige model including Audi navigation plus, six-disk CD changer, Audi parking system, Bose sound system, heated front seats, LED interior lighting package, black fine napa leather package ($6,100); Audi magnetic ride with S button program ($1,900); S line package including black leather/Alcantara seats, 19-inch, seven-twin-spoke-design wheels with summer tires, matte brushed-aluminum inlays, extended leather, headlight washers, S line steering wheel with shift paddles, S line exterior package, S line door sills, S line fender badging ($1,200); Volcano red metallic paint ($475); Audi music interface, iPod cable ($70