Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the third generation of the ever-popular coupe launches 16 years after the original and – as in its predecessor – styling updates are evolutionary, adding a wider grille, R8-style bonnet-mounted badging and LED headlights to the familiar silhouette. S line versions feature unique bumpers, larger wheels and 10mm lower suspension, which can be swapped at no cost to the standard setup.

New to the TT is optional all-LED headlights and a revolutionary new interior, previously unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, which moves the infotainment screen to the all-digital instrument cluster and neatly hides climate control switches in the air vents. 

Launch engines comprise three petrol engines ranging from 227 to 307bhp, and a single 2.0-litre TDI – as found in the Golf GTD – which produces 182bhp. This propels the coupe to 62mph in 7.2 seconds while offering tax-efficient CO2 emissions of 110g/km with 67.2mpg fuel economy.

The platform is the Volkswagen Group’s new MQB modular setup, which sheds weight from all variants and helps fuel economy across the range, while the new quattro four-wheel drive system can run in two-wheel drive mode to aid economy.

UK pricing is as yet unconfirmed, and will be announced closer to the launch date late in 2014.