Audi A1 – Finally

Audi finally release details of their new 'Mini' - The Audi A1

We said only yesterday that we weren’t going to run another story on the new Audi A1 until we got some proper meat. Audi has dragged out the reveal of the A1 – from original concept 2 years ago to the endless recent teases – so much we just felt there was nothing more worth saying. But now there is after Audi decided enough was enough and has given us some proper information and photos of the A1.

The A1 will debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month and go on sale later in 2010. Inspired by the Metroproject Concept from 2007 the new A1 is Audi’s attempts to de-throne the MINI as the cool car in the sector. Although staying close to the concept, the A1 seems more of a higher, longer squashed TT than anything else in the Audi range.

The A1 comes in at just under 13′ long and 6’6″ wide (hopefully including the mirrors or there are going to be a lot of shopping prangs) and stands 4’8″ tall. Which makes the A1 bigger than the MINI and well on the way to Fiesta size. The interior gets LED lighting (option), a choice of beige, grey, black or ‘Wasaabi’ green contrast trim with coloured air vent rings. You can also opt for an all-singing, all-dancing Audi MMI with a 6.5″ screen, Bose, 20gb HDD and Bluetooth.

The aggressive-looking exterior gets a bold single-frame grill and stylish pair of headlights which can be ordered with Xenons and LED running lights. The exterior is defined by the coupe-like roofline which can be had in contrasting colours and the overall feel is of an individual and premium car. Which is just as well, as Audi are trumpeting the A1 as ‘The only premium car in its class’.

Power comes from an all turbo lineup of two petrol and two diesel lumps. Petrol units are a 1.2 TFSI and a 1.4 TFSI. The 1.2 litre TFSI delivers 85bhp and a 0-60mph of 11.9 seconds, with the 1.4 litre TFSI gets 120bhp and a 0-60mph of 9 seconds. You also have the option of the seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch ‘box.

Diesel units are a pair of 1.6 litre lumps with either 89bhp or 104bhp. These offer economy in the mid-70s and get to 60mph in 12 and 10.6 seconds respectively.

Order book for the A1 opens up in May, with first cars supposed to be hitting customers by November. Price is expected to start from about £13,000. A five door A1 will be offered later and as we already know an S1 is on the way – later in 2011.

Probably time for MINI to bring out a new Limited Edition.

By Cars UK