Not just a smaller A3
“It was not our aim to build a smaller A3”, stresses Audi spokesperson Mischa Ehlers. The A1 was above all to be no larger a car than its three-door sibling. “If you want more space than the Sportback offers then it is not the car for you”, according to Ehlers. But the A1 Sportback is also not to be seen as a more compact version of the elegant A3 Sportback with its short estate-like rear end, even if such a model would be well-received by many Audi fans. Until the ‘A’ pillar is reached the car is identical to the three-door version. Then the shoulder line continues around the whole vehicle and the ‘C’ pillar is acutely slanted. The roof has a small spoiler integrated in its construction.
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- “It was not our aim to build a smaller A3”, stresses Audi spokesperson Mischa Ehlers. The A1 was above all to be not a larger car than its three-door sibling.
An old friend, in fact
In many ways the Sportback can be considered an old friend, for a very similar four-door car was presented as a design concept at the Paris Salon d’Automobiles in 2008 as a precursor of the current A1 product range. Audi’s smallest model was launched on the market last year in its three-door version. In 2011 until now Audi have been able to sell 89 thousand A1 units, around 22 thousand of these in Germany alone. The aging A3, on the other hand, sold twice as well in the same time period and the Mini models found 33 thousand German buyers. It could therefore be concluded that the A1 range badly needed an expansion of the model portfolio.
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- In the back of the Sportback there is now room for true adults taller than 1 metre 80, even if the knee-room is not all that generous. In series trim there is a shelf with cup-holders but as an optional extra this can be replaced by a narrow middle seat to allow for a fifth occupant.
Optionally for five occupants
In the back of the Sportback there is now room for true adults taller than 1 metre 80, even if the knee-room is not all that generous. In series trim there is a shelf with cup-holders between thetwo back seats but as an optional extra this can be replaced by a narrow middle seat to allow for a fifth occupant. The interior of the A1 is more generously proportioned although the car is at 3.95 metres long and with its 2.47 wheelbase exactly the same size as the three-door variant. The Sportback is, however, six millimetres wider and taller. The extra space has not had an effect on the loading capacity which is 270 litres, hardly more than the 267 litres of the three-door. With the back seats folded down this rises to an unchanged 920 litres.
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- The driver will not notice the shut down of the cylinders, according to Audi. In combination with other efficiency measures such as standard start/stop automation the new engine will call for an averaged 4.7 litres of fuel per hundred driven kilometres.
Cylinder shut-down now for the A1
Under the bonnet hood of the 1,065 kilo Sportback there are the identical TFSI petrol fuelled engine or the TDI turbo-diesel as offered for the three-door A1. The power output ranges from 86 horsepower (63 kW) to 185 horsepower (136 kW). The technical stats with regard to acceleration, fuel consumption and maximum speed are also largely identical. However there will be in the future a newly developed 1.4 TFSI with 140 horsepower (103 kW), a power plant employing cylinder shut-off technology which Audi call ‘Cylinder on Demand’. While in a big Audi S8 four of eight cylinders can be deactivated in the Audi A1 when the power requirement is reduced and in the lower and middle RPM range two of the four cylinders go onto stand-by.
140 horsepower but only 4.7 litres required
The driver will not notice the shut down of the cylinders, according to Audi. In combination with other efficiency measures such as standard start/stop automation the new engine will call for an averaged 4.7 litres of fuel per hundred driven kilometres. With this new four-pot under the hood the A1 should reach a hundred in 8.1 seconds and top out at 212 kilometres an hour. The power will be handled either by a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-stage S-tronic dual-clutch automatic. The long anticipated all-wheel-drive Quattro version should make its appearance in 2012.
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- The pricing for the A1 Sportback will start from 16,950 Euros (1.2 TSFI with 86 horsepower or 63 kW). Until now the A1 three-door could be had from 15,800 Euros. The diesel motorizations start with a 1.6 TDI (90 horsepower or 66 kW) for 19,050 Euros.
From 16,950 Euros
The pricing for the A1 Sportback will start from 16,950 Euros (1.2 TSFI with 86 horsepower or 63 kW). Until now the A1 three-door could be had from 15,800 Euros. The diesel motorizations start with a 1.6 TDI (90 horsepower or 66 kW) for 19,050 Euros. The ‘Attraction’ equipment package comprises air conditioning, electrically operated windows, electrically adjustable external rear-view mirrors and radio. On the extras list the potential buyer will find Xenon headlamps, high-beam assistant, panorama roof section and various exterior trim options. The roof, for example, together with the integrated spoiler can be finished in black, grey or silver. Later there will be aerodynamics extras and vinyl embellishments added to the accessories program.
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- The A1 Sportback will have its world première at the Tokyo Motor Show at the end of November and is scheduled to roll into dealers’ showroom in the first quarter of 2012.
Première at the Tokyo Motor Show
As an alternative to the normal navigation system Audi suggest their ‘Connectivity Package’ which allows for Bluetooth telephony as well as navi functionality. With the ‘MMI Navigation Pus’ it will also be possible to use Google localized search, web radio and to take advantage of a mobile WLAN hotspot enabling the use of laptops, smartphones and other devices. The A1 Sportback will have its world première at the Tokyo Motor Show at the end of November and is scheduled to roll into dealers’ showroom in the first quarter of 2012.
