Opinions vary about whether Audi’s second-generation TT is a pure sports car or something else. When it comes to styling and sophistication, however, there is near-unanimous agreement that the TT is a polished product. I think of it as a 12-month sportster — you can squeeze performance out of this coupe all year long.

Before we go any further, let’s clear up the name. TT is short for “Tourist Trophy,” a reference to the daring motorcycle race that was first held in 1907 on the Isle of Man and is still run today. The term TT has become synonymous with motorsport over the years, and thus is a fitting moniker for this German coupe, which, coincidentally, sells better in Britain than anywhere else in Europe.

The TT has done well in the United States too. As popular as the first generation’s Bauhaus-inspired design was, Audi needed to freshen the new model without losing its Germanic appeal. In fact, Audi spokesman Christian Bokich affirms that for many TT buyers, the exterior design is the biggest factor in their purchase decision. It’s a stylish car for stylish people, now longer by five inches and wider by half an inch, with wider front and rear tracks. Its more tapered roofline and lengthened compound curves give it a more muscular look that remains sensuous. The updated TT also enjoys lower drag, increased headroom, and more shoulder room.

But while the TT was, and remains, a thing for looking at, the new TT is built for driving as well.

Credit an excellent chassis made lighter through extensive use of aluminum (69 percent by weight), a new multilink suspension with magnetorheological damping, two excellent power plants, and a choice of transmissions. The Brilliant Red 3.2 Quattro that I drove combined a 250 hp V-6 with a six-speed manual, but you could opt for Audi’s S tronic transmission, a highly regarded automanual six-speed whose twin clutches grab two gears simultaneously. Or you could have your TT with Audi’s turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0-liter with S tronic and front-wheel drive.

The adjective that best describes the 3.2-liter Quattro (Audi’s name for its all-wheel-drive cars) is nimble. The TT doesn’t quicken your pulse like a hardcore sports car, but it puts up sports car–like numbers (zero to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, 0.93 g lateral grip, braking from 70 mph to zero in 159 feet). I didn’t drive the TT on track, where others report significant understeer at the limit, but given its front/rear weight distribution (59.4/40.6), that understeer isn’t surprising. However, you’ll rarely reach those limits on the street, where the TT Quattro’s all-wheel drive, light steering, and gearbox effort work well.

My drive was largely on cold, rain-soaked roads in February. Despite the weather, I could extract most of the TT’s performance in traffic and on back roads without the twitchiness or uncertainty that can come with driving a Corvette in such conditions. I found the six-speed manual’s clutch engagement a little light and finite for performance driving, and the steering, though precise, offers less feedback than I would hope for. Nevertheless, the TT is highly competent at low and high speeds.

The emphasis on style continues inside, where you’re met with a handsome, purposeful interior replete with highly legible gauges. The flat-bottom steering wheel is race-car functional and fashionable. Large entertainment system buttons, rotary HVAC controls, and an iPod interface are straightforward and pleasant to touch. The napa leather trim in my test car was high-quality and the seats sporty without being uncomfortable.

The TT has its quirks, though. Getting in and out requires ducking to avoid the roofline, which creates a blind spot where it tapers aft. When the parking lights are switched on, the gauges are not fully backlit — Audi’s parental way of encouraging you to turn on the headlights. The driving position is higher than I’m used to in a sports car, a benefit on one hand and a strange feeling on the other. Take note that the TT shares its platform with the Volkswagen Jetta and Rabbit (the R32 version of the Rabbit also shares the TT’s drive train and performs as well, with more interior room, at less cost).

But on the road, the TT is a secure, maneuverable little fighter. It’s a surprisingly hearty vehicle that’s in fashion year-round.