The Audi A1 (internally designated Typ 8X) is a supermini-class car launched by Audi at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Sales of the initial three door A1 model started in Germany in August 2010, with the United Kingdom following in November 2010.^[1]

The car is aimed mostly at young, affluent urban buyers.^[2]

Description

The A1 is designed to compete with the Mini,^[3] and Alfa Romeo MiTo.

The A1 is produced at Audi's Belgium factory in Forest, near Brussels.^[4] The A1 is based on the Volkswagen Group PQ25 platform, the same platform used in the SEAT Ibiza Mk4 and the VW Polo Mk5,^[5] and in its development Audi has collaborated with SEAT.^[6] The A1 uses a MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension.^[7]

The 100,000th A1 was produced in June 2011.^[8]

UK launch

The UK launch of the Audi A1 was held on 13 November 2010. The national launch took place from Battersea Power Station,^[9] where up to 300 Audi A1s left London.

Variants

In the UK, the A1 trim levels are SE, Sport and S line. SE is the base specification, while Sport and S line models also have sport seats, sports suspension and larger wheels, amongst other features.^[10] In 2011 Audi introduced a series of new trim levels, including Black Edition and a series of limited editions, including Competition Line and Contrast Edition. These are based on the Sport trim level with distinctive styling features.^[11]

A1 Sportback

In November 2011, Audi announced the A1 Sportback model. This is a 5-door variant of the A1, identical in external dimensions, but with seating for five and slightly more interior space. Initial deliveries in the UK are expected in Spring 2012.^[12]

Engines

All engines will include a start-stop system and energy recuperation system.^[14][15]

Concept cars

Audi has announced several Audi A1 concept vehicles, most of which are of the hybrid vehicle and PHEV variety.

metroproject quattro

Audi metroproject quattro (rear) Audi metroproject quattro (front) Audi A1 Sportback Concept at the 2008 Paris Motor Show Audi A1 e-tron A1 clubsport quattro The A1 was previewed at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show in the form of the Audi metroproject quattro concept car.^[16] The concept seats four and features a new hybrid powertrain. With this powertrain, a Turbo FSI engine drives the front wheels via a six-speed S-Tronic, while a electric motor provides power to the rear wheels. The electric motor is also capable of producing of torque.

The metroproject quattro is able to travel at up to on one charge of its lithium-ion batteries, which reduces fuel consumption by up to 15%. Both power sources are available to use simultaneously, with the driver then benefiting from McPherson strut front and four-link rear suspension configuration, electromechanical speed-sensitive power steering with a low energy draw, Audi magnetic ride adaptive damping technology, and in just 7.8 seconds.^[17]

At the 2008 Leipzig Auto Mobil International show, Audi again presented the metroproject quattro, renamed the A1 project quattro.^[18] The vehicle was designed by Audi AG Project Designer in Exterior Design Dany Garand, who also presented the design during the car's Hong Kong debut.^[19]

A1 Sportback concept

Audi unveiled a second A1 concept car at the Paris Motor Show in October 2008. The A1 Sportback concept is a restyled five-door development of the metroproject quattro. Like the earlier concept, the A1 Sportback has a hybrid powertrain, with the same 1.4 L petrol engine and S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission, plus a , electric motor. However the electric motor drives the front wheels, rather than the rear. Quoted acceleration is 7.9 seconds and average CO₂ emissions are given as 92 g/km. The A1 Sportback retains the dimensions of the Metroproject quattro, except for a slightly greater length, at .^[20][21]

A1 e-tron

The Audi A1 e-tron concept car is an electric variant of the A1, first shown at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.^[22] The A1 e-tron is a series plug-in hybrid (PHEV), powered by an electric motor with a continuous output of , and a peak output of . A fully charged 12 kWh lithium-ion battery gives a maximum range of , after which a 254 cc Wankel engine is used to power a generator with a fuel tank.^[23] This is estimated to provide an additional range of .^[22]

A field testing programme of twenty A1 e-tron vehicles began in Munich in late 2010.^[24]

A1 clubsport quattro

In May 2011, the A1 clubsport quattro concept car was shown at the W rthersee event. This car has a modified version of the Audi RS 3's five-cylinder 2.5 L engine tuned to and . Capable of acceleration in 3.7 seconds, the car also features a restyled exterior including "blister"-style extended wheelarches reminiscent of the Audi Quattro and minimal, lightweight interior trim.^[25]

Promotion

The Audi A1 has been promoted using a viral internet video release entitled "The Next Big Thing". The campaign stars Justin Timberlake and is comparable to the BMW film series "The Hire". Six episodes have been created and are available to view online. Each episode is around three minutes long, and shorter versions are featuring as television advertisements worldwide.^[26]

The A1 is the first car from Audi to have a tablet based brochure, called the "Audi A1 eKatalog". The brochure works on the Apple iPad and allows the viewer to change the color of the car on almost every page. It also includes a 3D driving simulation.

Awards

The Audi A1 1.4 TFSI Sport was awarded "Car of the Year 2011" by the British What Car? magazine.^[27]

References

External links

• Audi A1 Online Special
• Audi A1 project quattro (www.audi.com)

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