The Audi A1 is the latest car to be awarded a 5-star safety rating by testing authority Euro NCAP. The A1 scored 90% for adult occupants, 86% for safety assist, 79% for child occupants and 49% for pedestrian safety. You can read the full report on the Euro NCAP website. Meanwhile video footage and Audi’s press release are all your after the break.
Audi Australia previewed the A1 at the Australian International Motor Show in October. Now, they have released full details on the local specification. Dealers around the country have been receiving stock over the last couple of weeks, as well.
To refresh, Audi will be kicking off the A1 with two offerings, both fitted with a fuel efficient 90kW/200Nm 1.4 TFSI. The entry level Attraction, with 6-speed manual, starts at $29,900 and the Ambition model is priced from $32,650. Buyers wanting the 7-speed S tronic dual clutch transmission will need to cough up an extra $2350. A 66kW 1.6 litre TDI will be joining the range in the middle of 2011.
Audi Australia has been a bit light on with images of its next big thing, so you’ll have to make to do with AUSmotive’s images from AIMS to start with. Following the Audi Australia press release is a gallery of images sourced from Audi UK. Keep in mind some of the details and specs in these cars may not translate directly to our market, but they do give a good feel for the A1 in right-hand drive.
A closer look at specifications and options pricing for the Australian market is available via two PDFs, which can be found following the presser.
Audi launched its new A1 model at the Australian International Motor Show. They say it is the next big thing. Small in size, big on features is the theory. Does the A1 deliver on its promise? We’ll need a drive before we can give a definitive answer on that, but after putting our grubby little fingers all over the car we can at least tell you what it’s like from a visual point of view.
Outside, the look is definitely Audi and the result is mostly a success. Maybe the lower lip on the lower hatch where it meets the rear window is a bit too chunky, but that’s being very picky. Overall the A1 creates a pleasing mix of fun and sophistication.
Inside, the A1 is a real success. While the new Volkswagen Polo has improved its interior look and finish taking it to an all new level, the Audi A1 raises the bar further still. The hideaway Nav screen is a nice feature. It brings a welcome level of luxury to the small car segment. The only negative, though, is the resolution of the screen lacks detail compared to the system used in the current A3 range, for example. First impressions of the seats are very positive. They get the right blend of support and comfort and feel the equal, at least, of far more expensive cars.
At launch Audi will offer two trim levels, both powered by a 90kW 1.4 TFSI engine. The Attraction, with 6 speed manual, is priced from $29,900, while the Ambition starts at $32,650. Add $2,350 to both if you want a 7-speed S tronic (double clutch gearbox).
Deliveries of the A1 will start early next year. More details from Audi when they come to hand.
Audi Australia has just confirmed via its twitter account that its A1 premium hatch will be on show at AIMS, which starts on Friday. More details as they come to hand.
UPDATE 14 October: Audi Australia has confirmed with AUSmotive that the A1 will have its full Australian launch at AIMS tomorrow. Customer deliveries are expected in the new year. We’ll have full details after we return from the motor show.
You may recall Audi hired the services of Justin Timberlake as a brand ambassador to help promote its new A1 premium hatch. Well, it would now appear Audi thinks they’ve found the next Jason Bourne.
After watching this six-part series, though, it would seem Matt Damon’s honour remains in tact. For Timberlake, not so much. Indeed, if I were a casting agent it’d be a case of “don’t call me, I’ll call you”.
All six clips of The next big thing can be seen after the jump. They’re around 3 1/2 minutes in length on average, so it’s not too taxing to check them out in one sitting.
So what about the A1, it’s supposed to be the star of the show, right? It looks good enough on camera, and the stunts are performed with competence. In the end, though, you don’t come away from watching these short films thinking the bar has been raised in any way. It’s clichéd popcorn for the masses. I give it two and half stars. What did you think Margaret?
The next big thing, aka the Audi A1, is getting an early lesson in supply and demand. Production began in earnest this week and around 500 A1s are being built every day. That’s quite a lot for a new entry level premium product. Audi plans to build 50,000 cars before the end of 2010. That’s a lot too.
But it’s not enough. At least that’s the case according to Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi’s head of sales and marketing. Speaking to Automotive News Europe, Herr Schwarzenbauer said, “In view of the high demand, orders could surpass the production capacity this year.”
That means hopeful A1 buyers may need to take a ticket and stand at the back of the queue. What will be pleasing to Audi’s top brass is around 90% of those interested in the A1 are first-time Audi buyers.
A1 production is set to increase to 80,000 in 2011 and to 100,000 in 2012. Will this alleviate supply concerns, or will the sales growth of the A1 continue to surpass expectations?
[Source: Autocar]
Audi will be showcasing their Wörthersee Tour this weekend with seven customised A1 “motto vehicles”. The distinct models include Follow Me, FC Bayern, Competition Kit, Hot Rod, Fashion, Pickerljäger and Wasserwacht.
We got an insight into the Competition Kit motto vehicle back in March thanks to a YouTube clip from Audi tv. The customised vehicles are on show to promote the various ways A1 owners can individualise their cars through special paint schemes and adhesive films.
Images of all seven cars can be seen below, along with a detailed press release outlining Audi’s display at Wörthersee.
Audi have released some video footage of their new compact-class A1 (with S-line body trimmings) driving around the streets of Rome. Interesting to see what appear to be obvious signs of comparing the A1 to other cars of a similar ilk, such as the MINI and Smart. See how many other quasi-premium hatchbacks you can see in the clip. There’s quite a few!
The short video is available after the break.
Audi has surprised us by releasing a full suite of images of their “next big thing“—the Audi A1. The A1 is due for a full public reveal at the Geneva Motor Show in a few weeks.
So, what do we make of the Audi “MINI”? First impressions of the exterior are very good. Although, this is one car that will look best with larger alloys. The front and rear light clusters are works of art, as is the norm for Audi these days.
Inside, too, the immediate response is one of quality and Germanic style. The fold away nav screen is a nice touch. Although, speaking of touch, the touch screen nav systems used by Volkswagen, in the Golf for example, are a step ahead of current Audi navigation systems in terms of usability. Of course, it remains to be seen how this new MMI system will work in the A1, but a move towards the VW style would have been welcome.
Another observation from these pics is the apparent lack of dual climate control. Such systems are becoming common place these days and for a car claiming to be the first fair dinkum premium car in the compact class this might be a minor oversight. Having said that, the detail of the air vents in the A1 is something.
Audi is intent on trying to match MINI for customisation with the A1. Things like choosing the colour of the dramatic roof arch or tailoring interior appointments, even down to the detail of the air nozzles and colour of interior LED lighting, should ensure potential buyers are kept busy while working out how many of said options they can afford.
Not too much is given away on the engine range at this stage. There’s certainly no confirmation of an S1 model at this early stage, that’s for sure. For now, then, we know there will be four engines at initial launch, two diesel and two petrol. All will be turbocharged and the power on offer ranges from 63kW–90kW. As expected with those moderate numbers fuel consumption (l/100km) hovers around high 3s-mid 5s and CO2 figures are also relatively low.
These figures are gained, in part, through the use of Audi’s start-stop system which will be included on all engines mentioned at this stage. A 7-speed S tronic transmission will also be available across the board.
I’d say I speak for most AUSmotive readers when I say I am most anticipating the announcement of the S1 model (expected to debut at the 2011 Paris Motor Show). However, I am now more inclined to think the S1 will have a quattro drivetrain after AUSmotive recently learned there are plans to use such a system on the A1 platform. Either that or I was indirectly given the scoop on plans for a new Q1 model. Let’s hope it was the former!
You know the drill, heaps of images are all yours after the jump, along with more detail in the form of Audi’s press release.
Here is the second update on the Audi A1 promos. The pic above shows German football stars Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm. The “awesome” Bayern Munich duo are filmed from inside the cabin driving the A1 inside a warehouse. The clip doesn’t give too much detail away, of course, but you can see the door handle and the dash looks like it has a pop-up screen for the navigation and entertainment systems.
Other info in this update shows Audi staffers talking up the A1’s quality and what to expect from the car’s interior design and trim. Later today Audi are scheduled to reveal the detail of the A1’s air vent. Gripping stuff!
Late last year Audi started to build the hype for it’s upcoming A1 model. They even recruited Justin Timberlake to be the car’s brand ambassador. He repaid that faith by allowing the paparazzi to snap some undisguised pics of the A1.
This is a car that Audi says will be the first premium model in the compact car segment. You might think BMW’s 1 Series could lay claim to that title, but it is more of an Audi A3 rival, in what would now be called the small-medium car segment.
Since launching their A1 microsite Audi have been drip feeding promo pics and videos in the lead up to the car’s official premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in early March. If you’ve missed them, here’s the first of a two part update that will bring you back up to speed.
In this update you will see a few Audi big wigs setting the scene for the A1. They explain what it will look like and why it is being made. You’ll also find out about the LED headlight technology filtering down from the R8, before seeing more info on the car’s exterior design.
Stay tuned for more on Audi’s “next big thing”.