A long photography session meant that I didn't get to drive the RS blue coupe, but I did a fair amount of trying to keep up through the twisties. The coupe had amazing poise, and was flat as a board through some high-speed cloverleaf cornering. KW has revalved its Variant 2 suspension especially for PPI, and combined with the Michelin PilotSports and Quattro all-wheel drive make for massive grip. The PilotSports live around the PPI formula wheels that were made exclusively for PPI by TechArt. No supercar would be complete without some big Brembos, and a specified 13-inch PPI System with floating calipers provide big negative g-forces.
At the time we shot the car the interior was pretty much standard, except for some nice aluminum detail in the form of a dash plaque, but since the shoot the insides have gone through a transformation in the form of Recaro seats rewrapped in Alcantara; the headliner has also been given the Alcantara treatment.
The time I spent with Abraham looking at his concept drawings, and then seeing his cars in person, convinced me that I should hang up my Hasselblad and pick up the pen and paper again. When I do, the world will take notice.
While not as dramatic to look at, the PPI convertible shares the same mechanical upgrades as the coupe, so it's no slouch on the road either. I had a chance to drive the convertible back from the photoshoot on one of my favorite test routes, and I can vouch for the fact that the PPI cars are a very well sorted package. Corners that would have other cars screaming for mercy were taken with no drama or body roll. Grip seems to be never-ending and acceleration out of the corners is strong and linear. As hard as I tried, I couldn't upset the balance or convince one end to leave the other, the car laughing in my face the whole time. The big Brembos couldn't be coaxed into fade, and at speed on the highway the car is just planted. It doesn't have the larger rear wing of the coupe, but at 100-mph-plus the car is rock solid. Bumps and expansion joints on the less-than-perfect NYC roads are soaked up like an SUV.
The convertible shares the same parts as the coupe, but all the carbon parts are titanium look, and are much more subtle than the carbon finish. Think of the PPI TT Cabriolet as more of a street sleeper than a street sweeper.
PPI TT Cabrio
Drivetrain
Longitudinal front engine, all-wheel drive
Engine
1.8-liter inline four, dohc, five valves per cylinder Modified intake,carbon-fiber airbox cover, carbon-fiber plenum cover, PPI turbocharger, stainless-steel downpipe and exhaust, high-flow engine management, PPI software
Suspension
PPI/KW Suspension Variant 2 coilovers
Brakes
PPI/Brembo 13-inch rotors
Wheels and Tires
PPI Formula, 8.5x18 Michelin Pilot Sport 2, 225/40-18
Exterior
PPI Design front and rear bumper covers w/ titanium-look and satin black inserts, titanium-look door inserts and mirrors, PPI rear light blend
Interior
PPI Threshold covers, PPI Dash plaque, PPI instrument upgrade
PPI TT RS
Drivetrain
Transverse front engine, all-wheel drive
Engine
1.8-liter inline four, dohc, five valves per cylinder Modified intake,carbon-fiber airbox cover, carbon-fiber plenum cover, PPI turbocharger, stainless-steel downpipe and exhaust, high-flow engine management, PPI software
Suspension
PPI/KW Suspension Variant 2 coilovers
Brakes
PPI/Brembo 13-inch rotors
Wheels and Tires
PPI Formula, 8.5x18 Michelin Pilot Sport 2, 225/40-18
Exterior
PPI design front and rear bumper covers w/ carbon fiber inserts, PPI speed sensitive carbon rear wing, PPI rear reflector, carbon-fiber door inserts, carbon-fiber rear window spoiler, side skirts w/ air inlets, carbon-fiber mirrors, PPI rear light blend
Interior
Alcantara headliner, custom leather upholstery w/ Alcantara and perforated leather inserts, PPI instrument upgrade