Audi A1 Good Small Car

It’s being called the Next Big Audi by the marketing gurus, and for the German luxury brand, the arrival of the A1 is certainly a big event. But that doesn’t make the Polo-sized three-door hatchback a big car. Instead, its relying on the cute factor, its premium positioning – and the increasing trend favouring smaller cars – for sales success. Fortunately, that’s not all the A1 has to offer. By DEON SCHOEMAN.
The A2 may have been ahead of its time, because it pre-empted the market’s appetite for small, advanced and eco-friendlier cars by at least a decade. But with hindsight, the cost of its eventual failure could be considered as school fees for Audi’s second small car attempt. And this time, the new small Audi does appear to be destined for success.

For starters, let’s confirm that the A1 feels every inch an Audi – and nothing like the Volkswagen Polo it shares some underpinnings with. But that’s not really a surprise, after all an A3 doesn’t feel like a Golf either.
Driving the A1 is to be presented with that typically solid, engaging dynamic experience that’s dictated by the Four Rings’ hatchback DNA. Which means it feels like a scaled-down A3 and not like a Polo clone. And of course, the design is unmistakably Audi.
That the A1 attracts a lot of attention is a good sign. And it certainly turns heads, although the novelty factor also plays a role, for now. Besides, this smallest Audi is not pretty in the conventional sense of the word.
To my mind, the best perspective is from the front, where the big, single-frame grille and LED daytime running lights emphatically confirm the hatchback’s Audi identity. But at the rear, the execution is a little more avant garde – even controversial – thanks to a tailgate with an unusual overbite, and tail light clusters that stand proud from the metalwork.

Somehow, that rear makes the A1 look a little old-fashioned. Add the shorter, almost squashed dimensions, and the result can be awkward and even dumpy from some angles. But it’s also eye-catching, especially when the arced roofline is emphasised by the optional pillars in a contrasting hue.

Audi A1 Review

Audi’s new A1 has the style, performance – and that premium four-ringed badge – to cause them
a major headache.
The ‘baby’ Audi offers a curvy appearance to the world rather than the squarer lines of the Mini and prices start at the appealingly low level of just over £13,000.

The test car, a 1.4 TFSI Sport, came with a distinctive chromed roofline – one of a number of personalisation options that is likely to prove popular with customers in this sector of the market.
A1 buyers can choose from turbo-charged 1.2 or 1.4 petrol engines and there’s a diesel option too that’s expected to prove the best seller.
Trim levels range from SE through to Sport and S Line – and it won’t take too many option box ticks to see prices nudging £20,000 for the flagship model.
The A1 wrings better performance from its 1.4 litre engine than the Mini’s lower output 1.6 power plant and is capable of hitting 60mph in under nine seconds.
There’s also an agreeably rorty note from the engine when it’s asked to perform – though if you are too carefree with your right foot you’ll never get anywhere near Audi’s combined cycle economy figure of 53.3mpg.
Though this is the smallest Audi since the A2 of 1999, the German firm does not appear to have stinted on quality.
The paintwork is beautifully finished and the cabin is made from quality materials – concentrated Vorspurng Durch Technik indeed.
The seats are very comfortable and the driving position is good.
There was a quality sat nav in the test car and the solidity and chunkiness of the handbrake made it clear from the outset that this was no run-of-the-mill supermini –even if it is based on a VW Polo.
There’s enough room, just, for four adults to sit comfortably inside and the A1 also scores over the Mini by virtue of its slightly larger boot.
Despite its slightly cutesy looks and kerb weight of just over a tonne there’s a reassuringly solid feel about the A1 on the road. It handles and steers well though doesn’t quite go about its business as enthusiastically as its Mini rival, with its trademark gokart handling ability.

Audi Confirms A5 Sportback and new A8 for 2009, Q5 Hybrid also in the Works

During his speech at Audi AG's annual shareholders meeting in Germany, Audi Chairman of the Board, Rupert Stadler, revealed that the automaker is planning to present the next-generation A8 in November and extend its range with the new A5 Sportback sometime in 2009. Furthermore, Stadler confirmed earlier reports that Ingolstadt based company is also working on a hybrid version of the Mercedes GLK rivaling Q5 SUV and that the A1 minicar is due for a 2010 market launch with the Q3 small SUV following in 2011.

This means that unless Audi has another surprise up its sleeves, the four-door coupe derivative of the A5 is most probably the new model that the maker said its preparing to unveil during the celebrative festivities for the firm's 100th anniversary in Germany on July 16.

The A5 Sportback is in essence the production version of the sleek-looking Sportback Concept that was first shown in Detroit in the beginning of the year. Expect to see a familiar Audi engine lineup, including the latest 2.0-liter TSI with 211HP, the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 with 290HP and a 3.0-liter V6 diesel cranking out 240HP.

"The A4 has attracted the largest share of customers loyal to the Audi brand. And a great number of them want to move further upward while carving out their own unique identity," said Stadler.

"The A5 Sportback is precisely what they're looking for. This vehicle will pose a genuine innovation in the B segment: a revolutionary vehicle concept offering the ideal blend of functionality and aesthetics"

As for the brand new A8 sedan (see the spy shots here), Stadler said claimed that it will be the sportiest model in its segment and that it will redefine people's notions of a luxury car's interior.

"We will also be presenting the next-generation Audi A8 and rest assured, Ladies and Gentlemen, it's going to be a sensation. The A8 remains Audi's flagship: it embodies our understanding of the word "premium"," Stadler told Audi's shareholders.

"The A8 will be the sportiest luxury sedan in its class – and set new standards with regard to interiors. Its precision and build quality are second to none. This model naturally means a great deal to us, because it played a greater role than any other car in the rise of the Audi brand. And we will unveil it to the world in a remarkable fashion in late November."

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

Paris Preshow: Audi Unveils 185HP A1 1.4 TFSI but doesn't Call it the S1

Last week, we told you that the Paris motor show organizers confirmed the Audi S1 and that sources made word of a slightly more powerful variant of the new VW Polo GTI's dual-charged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing a little over 180 ponies.

Well, get this; today, Audi presented a new flagship version of the A1 powered by a tweaked dual-charged 1.4 TFSI delivering 185HP and 250 Nm (184.39 lb-ft) - but, the Germans aren't calling it the S1. Instead, the most powerful variant of the A1 series to date is plainly named the 'A1 1.4 TFSI'.

Guess we'll have to wait for the grand opening of the Paris Show on September 30 to find out if this is the car the organizers were referring to or if Audi has a spicier surprise under its belt.

Like the latest VW Polo GTI, the A1 1.4 TFSI combines the dual-charged (supercharger and turbocharger) petrol engine with a standard seven-speed S tronic transmission that directs power to the front wheels.

To improve handling, the car comes equipped as standard with ESP stabilization program featuring an electronic limited slip differential. When the system detects a looming loss of traction at the inside wheel during fast cornering, it initiates very brief braking of that wheel. The package also include more powerful front brakes.

Audi says the flagship A1 model goes from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in just 6.9 seconds (same as the 180HP VW Polo GT) and reaches a maximum speed of 227 km/h (141mph). The premium supermini consumes on average 5.9 lt/100km (39.9 US mpg), which corresponds to CO2 emissions of 139 g/km (223.70 g/mile).

Standard features include Ambition equipment line, 17-inch wheels, S line exterior package, manual air conditioning, additional mono.pur colored interior elements, black headlining and an LED interior light package.

The A1 1.4 TFSI 185HP will be launched in Europe toward the end of the year at a price of €24,250 (about US$31,700 at today's exchange rates).

Audi to Begin Fleet Trials of A1 e-tron Electric Supermini

Just six months after the presentation of the A1 e-tron concept car at the Geneva Salon this past March, and Audi has announced plans to begin fleet testing of it extended range electric premium hatchback.

The Ingolstadt-based automaker said that by the middle of next year, 20 examples of the A1 e-tron will take to the streets of Munich as part of a pilot project undertaken by Audi AG in partnership with E.ON, the Munich municipal utility company Stadtwerke München (SWM) and the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

Approximately 200 new charging stations will be installed throughout the Munich city area, including private garages or parking garages. Audi claims all of the charging stations will be supplied with electricity generated from renewable energies.

The goal is to enable experts to address a number of issues ranging from the data transfer between the driver, vehicle and electric filling station to the power grid, to the use of smartphones as the central interface for the driver.

Audi's answer to the BMW Group's MINI-E features a similar setup with the range-extending EV Chevrolet Volt making use of an electric motor to drive the front wheels and a small single-rotor Wankel engine that recharges the lithium-ion battery when its energy is depleted.

The electric motor delivers an output equivalent to 102-horsepower allowing the A1 e-tron to reach a top speed of 130km/h (81mph). The car is said to have a driving range of around 50 kilometers or 31 miles on a fresh charge.

If the range extender Wankel engine is used to recharge the battery, the A1 e-tron can cover an additional 200 kilometers or 124 miles of range. Audi says that according to a draft standard for the computation of fuel consumption for range extender vehicles, this represents a fuel consumption of 1.9 l/100 km (124mpg) with a CO2 equivalent of 45 g/km (72.42 g/mile).

"We are trying to find a concept that requires no compromises," says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, who continues, "Electromobility means more to us than just electrifying conventional cars. Instead we are dedicated to a holistic approach to all aspects of the topic. We hope that this fleet trial will enable us to gain broad insights into the behaviour but also the expectations of our customers regarding their dealings with electric cars. Of course, the data that we will collect are another aspect. This market and technology feedback will enable us to further expand our expertise in electrification."

Spy Photos With Audi A1

Looks like some spy photos with the future come Audi A1 came up, the car is programmed to be unveiled next week. As you can see from the photos, this Audi A1 comes with some pretty cool drawings, I’m sure that this car will have all the attention on the road.

Under the hood the Audi A1 will have one of the following, in the list is a 1.2 liter TFSI with 63kW (86 PS) and 160 Nm, a 1.6 liter TDI churning out 77kW (105 PS) and 250 Nm of torque and an 1.4 liter TFSI packing 90kW (122 PS) and 200 Nm. TheAudi A1 is should appear on the market this summer and Audi expects to sell over 80.000 cars this year.

C teaser image revealed

Audi has revealed a teaser image of its Audi A1 - a rival to premium superminis such as the Mini.

The image is part of a teaser video where a graffiti artist spray paints an image of the car on to a wall.

The A1 will be revealed at the Geneva motor show next spring, before going on sale in the autumn. Prices are estimated to start at around £14,000.

Audi A1 - the clues we've seen so far
We have already been given plenty of clues to what the A1 will look like in the metal. The A1 Metroproject concept car was revealed at the Tokyo motor show two years ago, and a year later a five-door 'Sportback' version was shown at the Paris show.

Both of these concept cars were petrol hybrids, although the first production cars will be more conventional. While engines have yet to be confirmed, they will be from the existing VW line-up, which means the 1.2 TSI and 1.4 TSI turbocharged petrol engines look certain to feature. A hybrid will follow a year or so later.

Audi A1 Caught Testing in Germany

Audi’s new A1 premium compact is expected to hit showrooms in late 2010 as a 2011 model but today we have the first spy shots of actual prototypes taken as the car was undergoing testing in Germany.
Aimed squarely at other upmarket compact cars, namely the Mini Cooper, the new A1 will be available in several different variants--just like the Mini family.

The lineup is expected to be filled with the regular three-door and five-door hatchback models, but a stylish convertible and a compact MPV are likely to be launched as well.

The latest images clearly show the shape of the grille and LED detailing in the headlights. Powertrain options will range from about 1.2- to 1.6-liters in displacement and output up to 200-horsepower in a performance ‘S’ variant. A mild hybrid model may also be offered, as previewed by the 2008 A1 Sportback Hybrid Concept.

Audi A1

We have seen pictures, artist’s impressions and concept models, but not anything near what the new Audi A1 will look like. So it will be a relief to finally see what Audi’s attempt at a new city car will be like. Audi is calling the A1 a hybrid concept car, but we know that Audi will sell more gas/petrol and diesel versions than it will hybrid one.

See the Audi A1 Concept at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show 2007. The show will run for 17 days and will open from Friday October 26th to Sunday November 11th, although the show will not be open to the public until Saturday October 27th.

Audi A1 set for Frankfurt

Audi will put its A1 concept car into production later this year after its launch at September’s Frankfurt motor show.

The Audi A1 was first seen as the three-door Metroproject Quattro in 2007 and a five-door sportback model was unveiled at last year’s Paris motor show.

The A1 will be built at Audi’s plant in Brussels. The factory’s manager Alfons Dintner confirmed in a recent interview that production is due to start in October, ahead of an on-sale date early in 2010.

The Brussels plant will undergo a five-week shutdown period this summer to retool and prepare for production of the three-door A1 to begin.

The styling of the production model should be toned down from the concept, so don’t expect to see the frameless doors and luxurious interior in dealer showrooms.

The A1 is set to make use of the VW Group’s new 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre TSI petrol engines; a 1.4-litre TDI should also feature. An S1 model and a convertible model are also said to be under consideration.

Production of the five-door Sportback model will follow the three-door; it should begin before the end of 2009.

An Audi UK spokesman didn't confirm that A1 production was set to officially begin this year, saying only pre-production models were to be built in 2009 ahead of the car reaching UK showrooms later in 2010.