Prototype "Audi TT Biposto"

1999 - Ascari

Ascari GmbH, based in Röttingen, Germany, specialises in creating bespoke automotive prototypes. For the first-generation Audi TT (8N), it developed unique models to explore new configurations and prepare potential limited editions.

In 1999, Ascari teamed up once again with Audi AG to develop a bold project based on the TT Roadster 8N: the Ascari Biposto. If its name directly evokes its two-seater configuration, its philosophy is much more radical than a simple convertible. As for the Monoposto, the goal was to create a limited series, fusion between sports car and pure speedster, but the project will never go beyond the prototype stage.

A prototype born of ambition

The Biposto was originally intended to give birth to an exclusive mini-series, intended for a clientele in search of extreme sensations. Only one copy would have been produced. Built in 1999, it remained the property of Audi and then of Ascari, integrating the private collection of the British brand. This project, which aimed to explore a new facet of TT, ultimately did not find a commercial sequel.

Open and minimalist design

The Biposto retains the TT’s recognisable styling while stripping away unnecessary comfort. With no windscreen or soft top, it uses small Makralon® wind deflectors to heighten the experience. Each seat has its own roll bar, and the minimalist interior focuses on performance. Bucket seats and racing mirrors complete the clean design. At the rear, twin central exhaust outlets underline its sporting character.

Under the hood: radicalised TT

The Biposto follows the well-known mechanics of the TT 225 hp: the 1.8 T 20 valves (BAM engine code) coupled to the K04 turbo, delivering about 225 hp. Combined with a 6-speed manual transmission and Haldex clutch quattro all-wheel drive, it promises performance worthy of the best roadsters of its time. Ascari was not satisfied with a simple trim: 4-piston brakes, reworked suspension and 18-inch rims complete the transformation.

A project without tomorrow

Why was Biposto never produced? The same reasons as for the Monoposto: regulatory constraints related to the absence of windshields and hoods, and production costs too high for a niche project. It will therefore remain a single prototype, today considered an absolute rarity.

A discreet but striking legacy

The Biposto embodies an extreme vision of the TT: a stripped-down speedster, designed for pure driving pleasure. More “accessible” than the Monoposto thanks to its two seats, it remains nevertheless a radical experiment, witnessing a time when Audi dared to support extraordinary projects.

Source : http://www.ascari.de