What is it?
2010 Audi A1
What's special about it?
Audi has revealed the definitive production version of its new A1 in a series of official photographs prior to the car's world premiere at next month's 2010 Geneva Auto Show.
Set for European sale in June, the stylish three-door hatchback is the first in a whole new range of A1 models planned to join the Audi lineup within the next three years. The company has set the A1 to compete with the Alfa Romeo MiTo, Citron DS3, Fiat 500, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Mini in Europe's quickly expanding class of premium small cars.
Don't expect to see the A1 on U.S. roads any time soon, though. Despite concerted efforts by Audi to increase its sales performance in North America, the A1 does not form part of its future model lineup for the U.S. A high-ranking source at Audi told us, "We'll monitor response to the car, but it is very unlikely that the A1 will be sold in the U.S., at least during its first generation. Beyond that, it is hard to say what will happen."
First previewed as the Audi Metro concept at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show, the A1 was styled under Walter de Silva, Audi's former design boss before he was promoted to oversee the whole of the Volkswagen Group's design activities in 2008.
Despite its compact dimensions, the new car boasts a number of unmistakable Audi design cues, including a large single-frame grille, distinctive headlamp graphics with optional bi-xenon main beams and LED daytime running lamps, squared-off fender flares and a prominent shoulder line. At the rear is a one-piece tailgate similar to that used by the Audi Q5.
Audi's hope, of course, is that buyers will associate the look of the A1 with its more expensive models, giving the hatchback instant up-market cachet. Buyers will be able to individually tailor the appearance of the new Audi with a number of trim applications. Among these is a roof panel that can be specified in one of four different colors, a feature associated with Mini that has been much copied by other cars in this class.
To complement the introduction of the three-door A1 revealed here, Audi is also preparing both five-door and convertible versions of its newest model. Also planned is a sporting S1, which Ingolstadt will target directly at the Mini Cooper S. As part of Audi's efforts to attract younger customers to the brand, the A1's marketing campaign will be headed up by pop singer Justin Timberlake.
Spun off from the same Volkswagen PQ25 platform that underpins the Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Polo, the A1 is clothed in a conventional steel body measuring 155.5 inches in length, 68.5 inches in width and 55.9 inches in height. Like its compact stablemates from the VW Group, the A1 rides on a short 97.2-inch wheelbase, although its wide track should help it achieve the kind of agile handling associated with Mini.
European buyers of the front-wheel-drive A1 will initially get to choose between two turbocharged, direct-injection inline-4 engines, both of which represent the downsizing in displacement that is rapidly proceeding at Audi. The first is a 1.2-liter turbo that delivers 68 horsepower, while the 1.4-liter turbo makes 122 hp. In addition a 1.6-liter common-rail turbodiesel will be available in both 90 hp and 105 hp iterations.
The high-performance 1.4-liter turbo will be matched with a six-speed manual transmission, but the rest will all have five-speed manuals. Audi has also provided its new entry in the supermini market segment with a number of fuel-saving technologies, including automatic stop/start, regenerative brakes and a new management system for thermal energy from the engine. Optional across the range of models is a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission that can be had with shift paddles on the steering wheel.
Within the cabin, the 2010 Audi A1 receives a unique simplified dashboard, yet the associated switchgear and trims are similar to those of existing Audi models. A lot of effort has gone into the overall fit and finish, which the German carmaker claims sets new class standards.
The 2010 Audi A1 offers seating for up to four occupants together with 9.4 cubic feet of luggage capacity. Reflecting its premium positioning, the A1 will come with an extensive range of optional extras, including the latest in satellite navigation and an entertainment system based around a 60-gigabyte hard drive and 6.5-inch color monitor.
Inside Line says: So this Audi A1 isn't coming to the U.S., and we're not sure anybody is really going to miss the opportunity to buy a very small car that's very expensive. Andreas Stahl, Correspondent
2010 Audi A1
What's special about it?
Audi has revealed the definitive production version of its new A1 in a series of official photographs prior to the car's world premiere at next month's 2010 Geneva Auto Show.
Set for European sale in June, the stylish three-door hatchback is the first in a whole new range of A1 models planned to join the Audi lineup within the next three years. The company has set the A1 to compete with the Alfa Romeo MiTo, Citron DS3, Fiat 500, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Mini in Europe's quickly expanding class of premium small cars.
Don't expect to see the A1 on U.S. roads any time soon, though. Despite concerted efforts by Audi to increase its sales performance in North America, the A1 does not form part of its future model lineup for the U.S. A high-ranking source at Audi told us, "We'll monitor response to the car, but it is very unlikely that the A1 will be sold in the U.S., at least during its first generation. Beyond that, it is hard to say what will happen."
First previewed as the Audi Metro concept at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show, the A1 was styled under Walter de Silva, Audi's former design boss before he was promoted to oversee the whole of the Volkswagen Group's design activities in 2008.
Despite its compact dimensions, the new car boasts a number of unmistakable Audi design cues, including a large single-frame grille, distinctive headlamp graphics with optional bi-xenon main beams and LED daytime running lamps, squared-off fender flares and a prominent shoulder line. At the rear is a one-piece tailgate similar to that used by the Audi Q5.
Audi's hope, of course, is that buyers will associate the look of the A1 with its more expensive models, giving the hatchback instant up-market cachet. Buyers will be able to individually tailor the appearance of the new Audi with a number of trim applications. Among these is a roof panel that can be specified in one of four different colors, a feature associated with Mini that has been much copied by other cars in this class.
To complement the introduction of the three-door A1 revealed here, Audi is also preparing both five-door and convertible versions of its newest model. Also planned is a sporting S1, which Ingolstadt will target directly at the Mini Cooper S. As part of Audi's efforts to attract younger customers to the brand, the A1's marketing campaign will be headed up by pop singer Justin Timberlake.
Spun off from the same Volkswagen PQ25 platform that underpins the Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Polo, the A1 is clothed in a conventional steel body measuring 155.5 inches in length, 68.5 inches in width and 55.9 inches in height. Like its compact stablemates from the VW Group, the A1 rides on a short 97.2-inch wheelbase, although its wide track should help it achieve the kind of agile handling associated with Mini.
European buyers of the front-wheel-drive A1 will initially get to choose between two turbocharged, direct-injection inline-4 engines, both of which represent the downsizing in displacement that is rapidly proceeding at Audi. The first is a 1.2-liter turbo that delivers 68 horsepower, while the 1.4-liter turbo makes 122 hp. In addition a 1.6-liter common-rail turbodiesel will be available in both 90 hp and 105 hp iterations.
The high-performance 1.4-liter turbo will be matched with a six-speed manual transmission, but the rest will all have five-speed manuals. Audi has also provided its new entry in the supermini market segment with a number of fuel-saving technologies, including automatic stop/start, regenerative brakes and a new management system for thermal energy from the engine. Optional across the range of models is a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission that can be had with shift paddles on the steering wheel.
Within the cabin, the 2010 Audi A1 receives a unique simplified dashboard, yet the associated switchgear and trims are similar to those of existing Audi models. A lot of effort has gone into the overall fit and finish, which the German carmaker claims sets new class standards.
The 2010 Audi A1 offers seating for up to four occupants together with 9.4 cubic feet of luggage capacity. Reflecting its premium positioning, the A1 will come with an extensive range of optional extras, including the latest in satellite navigation and an entertainment system based around a 60-gigabyte hard drive and 6.5-inch color monitor.
Inside Line says: So this Audi A1 isn't coming to the U.S., and we're not sure anybody is really going to miss the opportunity to buy a very small car that's very expensive. Andreas Stahl, Correspondent
