NORTH SHORE drive SPORTS cars like the BMW Z3 and M Roadster, Mercedes- Benz SLK, Chevrolet Corvette, and Porsche Boxster have set new styling benchmarks in recent years, but perhaps the boldest styling exer- cise lately is the Audi TT, specifically the new Audi TT Roadster. Its eye-catching styling is even wilder than the TT Coupe introduced last year. With the top down, the TT Roadster displays ovo promi- nent auminum-coloured roll hoops, a bright aluminum trimmed dash, and racy, leather-stitched seats. Combined with its rounded front and rear styling, promi- nent fender flares and side sills, covered headlamps and five- spoke alloy wheels, the TT Roadster is really a stand-out in a class full of stand-ours. Striking interior In particular, the TT Roadster’s interior styling is striking and sporty, making extensive and creative use of aluminum trim and a circular styling theme. Aluminum interior features include prominent round air vents, rings around the instruments, door handles, shift knob, parking brake release, and steering wheel hub. There’s also a folding aluminum cover which hides the stereo, and prominent aluminum support bars in the lower console. The TT also has polished steel accelerator and brake pedals and a polished steel “dead” pedal to the left of the brake pedal. ‘My test car, an AWD TT Roadster, had optional amber-red leather upholstery with large “baseball-glove” leather stitching. This interior includes leather inserts in the doors, a leather-cov- ered shift knob and handbrake lever, and leather pads on the sup- port bars connecting the dash with the console. All TT Roadsters include an AM/FM/cassette with vehicle- speed-dependent volume control hidden behind that flip-up alu- minum cover. A six-disc CD changer and a Bose 175 watt sound system are optional. Dash controls include unique rotary fan and temperature dials: by turning, and holding the dial, fan speed increases until you release the dial. Cageriecnce Mercedes Meas threceh The Lutteciioe S20 epee Wer? Coates (AC Tarts Omit & Dette Serpsiy comusaeny NEWS AUTO There are two metal-ring cupholders berween and behind the seats, which I found difficult to reach. The TT Roadster is strictly a two-seater. Whereas the TT Coupe offers two additional (though very small) cear seats, the TT Roadster has no rear seats and offers minimal storage space. This includes a smalt covered bin behind the seats, mesh pockets behind the seats, a small storage area just ahead of the gear fever with a sliding cover, a way on the passenger side, a coin holder next to the handbrake iever and a small glovebox. In addition, the Roadsters trunk is much smaller than the Coupe’s. The FWD Roadster has 7.8 cu. ft. while the FWD Coupe has 13.8 cu. ft. The AWD Quattro Roadster has 6.4 cu. ft. while the AWD Coupe has 10.8 cu. ft. In addition, the Coupe, which is actually a hatchback, fas fold-down rear seats which more than double the cargo area. All TTs include dual front airbags — the passenger airbag can See Drive page 24 MOTIVE troverted fu GUIDE At A Glance: — “The turbocharger boost kicks in abcut 2,000 r.p.m. and there’s not much ‘turbo lag’. From thea on, the driver expe- riences a continuous surge of power right up to the engine’s 6,700 r.p.m. redline.” Mercedes-Benz Indy Car driven by Marr Blundel proudly presented and on display in our scowrvom MONDAY, AUGUST 21ST - THRU SATURDAY, AUGUST 26TH Me rCe ae es-benz NorTH VANCOUVER SALES © LEASING © PARTS ¢ SERVICE 1375 Marine Drive, N. Vancouver * 984-9351 SALES HOURS: 8:30AM - 8.00PM MONDAY TO THURSDAY + 8:40-6PM FRIDAY + 10° TO SPM SATURDAY PARTS/SERVICE: 7:50-0PM MONDAY TO FRIDAY © NOW OPEN SATURDAY 9-1PM 2 fattiogyve of signature merehanitise svarlable sto wwew mercedes hens ica THE audacious 2001 Audi TT Readster follows on the heels of iast year’s TT Coupe. In Canada, two TT Roadster modefs are offered: one with front-wheel-drive and a 180-horsepower, 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and the other with all-wheel-drive and a 225-horse- power, 4.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine — but they don’t come cheaply. Test drive the AudiTT at North Van’s Capilano Voitkswagen.