Audi marks its 500,000th TT with the 268bhp TTS Limited Edition

I’m sure many of us will remember our first glimpse of the Audi TT – mine was in 1998 just outside the departures gate at Copenhagen airport. Since then more than half a million have been sold, with it becoming one of Audi’s most recognisable models.

To mark the occasion, Audi have released a special version of the 268bhp TTS – in Coupé and Roadster forms – with just 120 of the planned 500 unit production run coming to the UK.

Priced from £38,860 for the Coupé and £42,320 as a Roadster, the new TTS Limited Edition will be available in two special paint finishes – Nimbus grey for the Coupé and Imola yellow for Roadsters.

Both feature a fixed rear spoiler in the style of the TT RS (and the TT Black Edition with Amplified Black package) and an upgrade from the standard car’s 18-inch alloy wheels to the 19-inch five-arm rotor design.

Inside, both receive Impulse grey leather upholstery with the famous ‘baseball’ stitching in grey and yellow. A numbered plaque is fitted in the door insert to underline each car’s exclusive build slot.

Otherwise the usual comprehensive specification is available to buyers including a DVD-based satellite navigation, a Bluetooth mobile phone interface and Audi Music Interface (AMI) iPod connection, plus a BOSE sound system upgrade, rear parking sensors, cruise control, light and rain sensors and an interior light package. Audi say the TTS Limited Edition includes £5,665-worth of styling and equipment upgrades for a premium of £2,815 over the ‘standard’ model.

A total of 269,600 first-generation TTs left the factory, which means the Mk2 is ‘close’ to eclipsing its predecessor before the third-generation model goes on sale in 2014. As of July 2013, 227,100 second-generation models had been built making it one of the most popular compact sports cars on the market.