There are two ways to approach a restomod.
The first is the shouty route: more power, bigger wheels, questionable bodykits and enough carbon fibre to bankrupt a small aerospace firm.
The second is much harder to pull off. It involves restraint, obsessive attention to detail and the confidence to know that sometimes the cleverest move is simply refining what was already brilliant.
That’s exactly what Dutch design house Autoforma has done with its latest creation: a one-off reimagining of the Audi TTS that pays tribute to one of the cleanest and most influential car designs of the modern era.
Dubbed the Autoforma Audi TTS Restomod, this bespoke build takes the production TT and gently nudges it closer to the purity of the original 1995 concept car — that beautifully simple Bauhaus-inspired shape that made every other coupe of the late 1990s look unnecessarily complicated.
“Autoforma has also deleted the rear spoiler, antenna and visible weld seams, allowing the surfaces to flow uninterrupted from nose to tail”
Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, Autoforma has focused on subtle but deeply nerdy design tweaks that sharpen the TT’s geometric clarity.
The front bumper has been completely redesigned with flatter, wider air intakes and fresh grille detailing to emphasise visual width, while the indicators have been cleverly hidden behind mesh-covered side vents in the front wings.
That might sound simple enough, but achieving it required relocating the washer fluid reservoir to the boot because the new venting extends into space the tank once occupied.
Further down the flanks, there are discreet sill intakes secured with exposed Torx fasteners, while the rear receives a completely reworked diffuser that integrates the exhaust system into the bumper itself.
The result is a cleaner, more architectural rear end that feels far more concept car than production compromise.
Perhaps the biggest transformation, though, is overhead.
The original fabric convertible roof has been binned entirely, replaced by a sculptural composite hard cover that visually extends into the tops of the doors. It completely changes the silhouette, giving the car a more monolithic profile that harks back to the first TT show car.
Autoforma has also deleted the rear spoiler, antenna and visible weld seams, allowing the surfaces to flow uninterrupted from nose to tail.
Finished in a beautifully judged two-tone Nimbus Grey Pearl and matte grey combination, the car looks like it has rolled straight out of an Audi design sketchbook.
Matte grey wheels, laser-cut metal window surrounds and tiny racing mirrors mounted directly to the glass add to the technical, almost industrial aesthetic.
“The original fabric convertible roof has been binned entirely, replaced by a sculptural composite hard cover”
The project was commissioned by noted Dutch designer Jos Baijens, who was one of the earliest Audi TT owners back in 1998 and worked closely with Autoforma throughout the process.
According to designer Niels van Roij, the aim was to elevate the production TT to the same level of sophistication as the original concept using advanced CAD scanning, rapid prototyping, 3D printing and traditional coachbuilding techniques.
Mechanically, the TTS underpinnings remain, meaning there’s still plenty of turbocharged punch to match the visual drama, while tyres from Vredestein ensure the handling remains suitably sharp.
If anything, it’s reminding us that, nearly 30 years on, the Audi TT still looks utterly sensational when handled with care. Now, time to peruse the classifieds.
