LET'S play a word association game. It's a little Freudian, so you should opt out now if you think it might mess with your mind and make you less open to couch-jumping antics. Ready? For each of the following words, write down another that comes immediately to mind.

a) Banana
b) Lollipop
c) Peach
d) Roadster

If none of the words you've scribbled rhymes with fax, you've probably never been exposed to MTV and I respect you for that.

Either that, or you were simply stumped by the last word. Essentially, a roadster is an open-top two-seater with an impossibly prominent snout.

Yes, snout.

For the rest of you, proceed to think of Roadster. Chances are, you will associate the term with the Mercedes-Benz SLK, Porsche Boxster, BMW Z4 and the Audi TT Roadster.

The TT Roadster has the distinction of being the newest roadster now. It also happens to be among the quickest of the pack.

The 2-litre version outsprints nearly all base-model offerings from the other marques. It would probably outgun the Boxster too if the latter was available as a 2-litre. The 'entry-level' Boxster is a 2.7-litre.

That's the privilege of a turbocharged power plant. The TT Roadster's 200-horse TFSI engine is identical to the one in the TT Coupe and is the same one which gained notoriety in the VW Golf GTI.

Like so many sporty Volkswagen Group products these days, the car is equipped with a six-speed double-clutch semi-automatic transmission with steering-mounted paddle shifters. It's called DSG and it is tastier than MSG.

The new TT Roadster is sizeably larger than its predecessor. You would half expect that to be a penalty, as roadsters are made to be compact and chuckable.

But surprisingly, the new car is just as nimble and manouvreable as I recall the former TT Roadster to be. Only now, you don't have to be built like a jockey to enjoy the ride.

And the car actually offers half-decent stowage.

The most delicious thing about the new Audi however is this: With the fully-automatic canvas top folded away, you can immerse fully in the TT's stirring symphony as the DSG moves from cog to cog.

Yes, cog.

The next most delicious thing about the car is Audi's newfound design flair and build quality. The topless TT stands shoulder to shoulder with the other German roadsters in this respect.

The 2-litre TFSI model will get the adrenaline flowing. But the 250-horse 3.2-litre quattro is said to cause other hormones to surge as well.

Price: $201,000 with COE
Engine: 1,984cc 16-valve direct-injection turbo inline-4
Transmission: Six-speed DSG
Power: 200bhp at 5,100rpm
Torque: 280Nm at 1,800-5,000rpm
0-100kmh: 6.5 seconds
Top speed: 237kmh
Fuel consumption: 10.8 litres/100km (city)
Agent: Premium Automobiles