If you're trying to think of a two-letter abbreviation for "super-cool coupe," here's a hint: It begins with T and ends with T, with nothing between the Ts.
You guessed it — it's the Audi TT, the remarkable roller-skate of a car that redefined "super-cool coupe" with its debut in Y2K.
There was a time when a design as slick as the TT's could never have escaped the confines of the concept car carousel. But after stealing the strobe lights in the 1995 Frankfurt auto show, the TT seriously creased Audi's image as a rather stolid manufacturer of heavily starched sheet metal.
Credit Audi's rivals for taunting their German competitor onto the assembly line. BMW had already grounded the gauntlet with Z3 and Z8 roadsters that, basically, made everything else on the road look like a fleet car.
And, indirectly, Audi had already tested the waters through its parent Volkswagen, which made the world go round with its lovably bubbly New Beetle.
Before anyone had a chance to ask: "What do you do for an encore?" Audi came out with all-wheel-drive and drop-top versions of the TT that continue to dazzle to this very day.
Keeping the franchise fresh in 2002, Audi unveiled the ALMS Commemorative TT as a limited edition model designed to conquer the collecting crowd with its not-so-subtle styling cues.
Before we wander too far into acronymic glossolalia, let's clarify that TT stands for "Tourist Trophy," a road race begun in Europe in 1905 by New York newspaper heir James Gordon Bennett Jr., perhaps (and I emphasize perhaps) better known as sponsor of Henry M. Stanley's search for missing British explorer Dr. David Livingstone, I presume. ALMS, which are not for the poor, stands for American LeMans Series.
"The ALMS Commemorative Edition TT is likely to be coveted by enthusiasts and collectors," said Len Hunt, vice president of Audi of America Inc. "We crafted this special vehicle to showcase Audi's successful motorsport endeavors in North America."
To earn its limited edition status, the ALMS Commemorative TT bears special 18-inch wheels, high-performance tires, special color and trim. The 1,000 ALMS editions will appear in two color schemes: a red pearl exterior with a silver leather interior; and a silver pearl exterior with bright red interior.
The car I drove bore the silver exterior with red-and-black interior, a combination that is not for the timid. The bright red leather shouts "classic car" in a manner that's impossible to ignore.
Despite the growing numbers of other TTs, this edition earned some extra attention on the road.
Bearing a window sticker that begins at $39,600, the ALMS is likely to find buyers before buyers find it.
Riding on Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system, the coupe sticks to the tarmac in hard maneuvers thanks in part to its low center of gravity. With a 225-horsepower, 1.8-liter five-valve turbocharged twin cam engine and a well-calibrated six-speed stick, the TT takes off briskly, gaining momentum rapidly in second gear. I developed a real fondness for left turn lanes with green arrows. Unlike drivers who take long, langorous, looping turns from the left-turn lane, I like to take off once the coast is clear and clip the corner quickly. The TT handles this kind of maneuver con brio.
In more experienced hands, the ALMS accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds using the same power train as the other versions of the TT.
Traction and safety get a boost from an anti-lock brake system with electronic differential lock and electronic rear brake pressure regulation, Anti-Slip Regulation and full-time traction control.
The automatic climate control system with digital-display temperature setting features a sun sensor and a dust and pollen filter. Front seats are contoured with controls to adjust seating height. A tilt-telescoping steering wheel improves the driving comfort.
Although the TT seems to have back seats, they're really more for storage than human transportation. Standard equipment includes an alarm system with theft-deterrent repeater lights on each door windowsill and a separate sensor for monitoring activity inside the car.
The option list consists of heated front seats, a HomeLink three-channel remote garage door transmitter in the overhead console, a Bose 175-watt premium sound system with subwoofer and six-disc CD changer, a global positioning navigation system and wiring for a Motorola v60 digital cellular phone.
The disc changer is lodged in an awkward spot beside the back seat, meaning you should really pick your play list carefully before hitting the road. Other downsides to design include limited visibility via the tiny, oval rearview mirror and a low roofline that sometimes feels like you're wearing a baseball cap on your car.