'With the TT, Audi created one of the automotive design icons of the last 20 years,' said Dr Hackenberg, Audi Board Member for Technical Development. 'In the years since, we have designed our sporty and elegant five‑door Audi A5 Sportback and Audi A7 Sportback. In our Audi TT Sportback concept show car, we are now fusing both concepts to form a new member of a potential TT family.'

The four-seat concept adds 29 centimetres to the length of the “standard” TT to incorporate its extra rear doors and is also 6cm wider, 3cm lower and has a 12 centimetre longer wheelbase.

The concept uses lightweight composite construction based on the modular transverse matrix (MQB) and giving a low centre of gravity.

At the front there’s a new version of the Singleframe grille along with new headlights using laser technology; a camera is used to detect and shield other road users from the light projection.

The side view shows clear links with the production TT while the rear is in keeping with the Sportback line as implemented by Audi in its A5 and A7 model series.

The interior uses the Audi virtual cockpit, with a 12.3‑inch screen replacing the conventional instruments and the MMI monitor. The super sport seats with the integrated head restraints are sharply contoured and highly adjustable.

There is space for two people in the rear in individual seats with integrated head restraints. They are separated by functional storage compartments and a comfortable armrest. The backrests can be folded down so that large objects can also be stowed in the luggage compartment beneath the tailgate.

The 2.0 TFSI engine in the Audi TT Sportback concept generates 400PS at 6,400rpm and maximum torque of 450Nm between 2,400 and 6,000rpm, with fuel consumption up to 40.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 162g/km.

The turbocharged direct-injection engine gives a 0 to 100kph time of 3.9 seconds and is married up to a compact seven-speed dual clutch S tronic with a three-shaft layout that performs direct gear changes in a few hundredths of a second. Power is delivered to the road via quattro permanent all‑wheel drive.