By Stephen M, AutoPuzzles Contributing Editor

Photos of Audi's second generation TT are bouncing around the web these days, and my initial reaction is, well, contentment. There's nothing much wrong with it. Then again, there wasn't much wrong with pill bug v1.0, save a few high speed stability teething pains. It offered innovative, blessedly non-retro styling joined to competent if uninspired dynamics.

In other words, a car you didn't regret buying, and didn't regret NOT buying, if you chose that path instead. Now comes version 2, with the standard sports coupe generational improvements, aka more POWER, and presumably some additional heft. What's missing is that element of passion that makes one buy this car over a perfectly lovely sedan or wagon built on the same platform (preferably with an "S" or "RS" badge).

You don't get Porsche's panache or quirkiness. You don't get a Corvette's rattling edge. You don't get the blessing of the cognoscenti that comes with an M3 or Z4. You just get something different. And for the Audi faithful, that's always been enough. The "car-as-appliance" segment of the population knows if you want German engineering and bragging rights, you get a bimmer or a benz. Audi contented itself with the leftovers, those weirdos who read car magazines and watch the WRC.

If the early details of the next-gen TT are any indication, Audi is still content with that role. They didn't hire an Italian gun to sculpt passion out of steel. They chose instead to let the pill bug grow, as it must, and saw that it remained true to its roots. And for that, I can't fault them. For what profit a company if it gains a few yuppies but loses its soul?

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