Audi will take the fight to the hot-selling Mini with the new A1 Sportback, which will be packed with technology, safety kit and the brand’s latest premium features in a bid to make it the most generously equipped supermini on sale.
The second-generation A1 will arrive in November with the aim of drawing new and young customers to the Audi brand, and makes its first public outing to the Paris motor show. The outgoing A1 is Audi’s third-best-selling model in the UK. It has been a consistent seller for Audi across Europe, too, with annual sales in the region only once dipping below 90,000 units since it was launched in 2010. But with rivals such as the Mini achieving more than double that figure (it sold in 215,549 units last year), Audi has yet to tap into the full sales potential of this segment.
The new A1, the smallest model in Audi’s range, has been given a dose of sporting design, with nods to the brand’s Quattro rallying heritage, including a single-frame front grille and three flat bonnet slits that reference the original 1984 Sport Quattro.
Audi A1 designer Hurgen Loffler on why his car has gone 'to the gym'
Like its Volkswagen Group MQB A0 platform siblings, the VW Polo and Seat Ibiza, the new A1 comes exclusively in five-door form and has grown in size (it’s now four metres long) to increase cabin space, particularly in the rear, and add 65 litres of luggage capacity.
Next Audi S1 due with 250bhp in 2019
Power is provided by a choice of turbocharged TFSI petrol engines, with no diesel offered. There will be a 94bhp 1.0-litre three-pot and 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre four-cylinder units offering up to 197bhp.
A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, with a seven-speed S tronic automatic ’box optional. The most potent 197bhp model, the 40 TFSI, gets a six-speed S tronic transmission as standard.
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Jeremy
'New A1 has gone to the gym'
As this is yet another new model that has grown in size over it's predecessor, I would venture a guess that it is now both bigger and heavier than the original Audi A3. If so, this car has not gone to the gym, but rather 'needs to go on a diet'.
StuM82
Better than...
Better than it's other small VAG stablemates the Polo and Ibiza which don't look great (especially the Polo). Good thing there is PCP or the 'young' drivers wouldn't be able to afford one.
david RS
Large large :-(
Large large :-(
230SL
Thought the two grille front
Thought the two grille front was referencing the Hyundai Kona, you can have 675w Bang & Olufsen in a Fiesta if you want to question Audi's claims. No mention of suspension or brake set up but guess that does not matter when it is a lifestyle accessory.
si73
I don't see a racy new look,
I don't see a racy new look, more an evolution of the previous, which is fine as I always thought it was audis best looking car.
Rods
Lost its charm...
Such a shame.
superstevie
What a complete mess! It is
What a complete mess! It is like they couldn't stop adding creases and details to it.
Andrew1
Ugly
manicm
Audi are getting their mojo
Audi are getting their mojo back. Surely this over a Mini for me now.
Citytiger
I wonder
if its got the same dodgy rear seatbelts as the Polo
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