It would have been naive and over optimistic for anyone to assume that the A1 would even be in the vicinity of the Mini's sales figures. The A1 is the new boy in the class and Audi will need to pour heaps of millions into funky marketing campaigns that will enlighten people of the car's existent and awesomeness. Pricing of the car is premium, but the car does feel very premium. However the car market is flooded with small cars and it's hard to convince people to buy something that appears to look like just another small car. Launching a new car is always a difficulty and I'm sure sales will pick up as awareness of the car increase. A slow start is better than a fad whereby the sales are peak at launch and then slide off like an avalanche after a year or so. What makes Mini so strong is their marketing. It's world class and Audi should get the car a thriving role in a movie to generate viral buzz and get the car some street creed. I'm still shaking my head over the use of Justin Timberlake as an ambassador for the car. Audi couldn't have picked a more irrelevant celeb, and using Lucy Lu at the launch event of the new A8 was even more cringing. What year are they living in, 2003??
The odd thing is that many believe the Polo is cheaper than the A1 but when you start to spec them similarly you find that the two end up very close indeed.
The problem with Audi A1, VW Beetle, Fiat 500, Citroen DS3 is they are just another car in a line-up of a bunch of cars offered by that brand. Although F500 & VW Beetle were once THE Fiat and THE VW, today they are not anymore. THE Fiat is eg. Punto, while THE VW is definitely Golf. While MINI is a separate brand, with all funky models - sipin-offs of the reconstructed original MINI. I guess BMW model below 1-series is going to face similar fate as A1 and others, not repeating the success of MINI. :t-hands:
Without a doubt both the A1 and the future 1 series (fwd) are/will be a better car than the Mini is overall. But the Mini as a brand, as an image, as a lifestyle it offers something unique in this sector, no other brand is this hip and funky. Hats off to the marketing team that have promoted the brand over these years, it's them that have made the Mini the strong product it is today.
In Germany, Audi AG recruited the services of Tokio Hotel to promote the A1. I wasn't aware that the cars' target demographic was pre-puberal girls. My sarcasm aside: Perhaps a wider range of models will help increase the popularity of the A1. The upcoming 5 door Sportback, perhaps a fabric-roofed drop top model. There is also quite a gap between the 122HP and 185HP petrol engine offerings. A version of the 1.4 TSFI with 150/160HP in the A1 may not be a bad idea. Perhaps a more powerful top of the line diesel version as well.
The 5 door won't do much in elevating the coolness of a car. Anyone who wants a utility car wouldn't even look at the Mini or 500 which both predominantly sell in a 3-door configuration. What the 5-door version will achieve is leach a percentage of A3 buyers. I do agree that there is an absurd gap between the engine offerings, but the car is new and new engine choices will probably pop up next year. Audi had a startling A1 on display at the Paris Motor show this year and in person it was a show stopper. Those types of colours are what Audi should have offered on the showroom floor as opposed to your bog standard range of colour finishes.
As you might be aware the A1 quattro model has been confirmed by Audi and to run the 182ps 1.4TFSI, so this paves the way for an S and RS model if Audi see a marketing opportunity. But what output will these model need to make? If you look at Audi's nearest A/S/RS line for ideas you will see the most power A3 2.0TFSI has 200ps, the S3 has 265ps which is an increase of 32.5% and the RS3 has 340ps which is an additional increase of 28.3%. Using these as possible guidelines of what might happen it could possibly mean the S1 having 240ps and the RS1 with 300hp. Food for thought, no doubt the chassis with the addition of haldex could easily cope with these kind of figures. :eusa_thin
What did it for me and I'm sure many other people, was seeing the Mini in the remake of the Italian job. I see it today (movie) and I wanna go get a Cooper S.:t-cheers:
All companies understand the benefits of movies but in the case of the Italian Job (the original with Michael Cann) it was such an iconic film and many would case was the first film to truly promote a motorcar to the extent that most remember the film because of the orginial Mini. With the remake there really was no other car that could have been used, it's a bit like Aston Martin and James Bond.
Firstly, I sure hope you aren't comparing the A1 to the 1er. Secondly, A1 will never be on Mini level. Thirdly, FWD 1er....?? What in God's name are you talking about??
Fristly, Klier we all are aware of your opinion that no Audi compares to a BMW. And secondly I stopped listening after your first point. :t-crazy2:
Nope, you got the engine for the A1 Quattro wrong. Audi officially said that it'll get the 2.0TFSI and "way more than 200 PS". For now, they only plan a limited production of 500 units to test the waters. But I'm sure you knew all that already. Best regards, south
Well, that's not very wise, because indeed klier is right. Unless you are not reading the BMW forums lately, which you do, you should know that the next generation 1 series will be based on the same modular platform with the next generation 3 series. That makes both models RWD
Thanks for sharing this info, all I have is that the production version when it comes will run a 1.4TFSI of 182ps though no limit was placed on it's number. A 2.0TFSI version would remind me more of what would end up in the S1.
Audi A1 quattro details More details released at Audi’s 30th anniversary of quattro event in Montreal, Canada. Auto Express Car Reviews By Tom Phillips 11th January 2011 Audi’s four-wheel-drive A1 is still 12 months away, but that hasn’t stopped the firm from rolling out a prototype of its smallest quattro in the snows of Canada. The one-off development car is one of the stars of the ‘Fascination of quattro' event taking place in Montreal to celebrate the past, present and future of the four-wheel-drive system. The A1 with quattro was confirmed at the Paris Motor Show last year. The newcomer uses a Haldex system similar to that of the A3 and TT. That means that the A1 remains in front-wheel drive most of the time, but when the going gets slippy, an electronically controlled, multi-plate clutch located in front of the rear axle can instantly transfer power to the back axle too, giving the full benefit of four-wheel drive. Under the bonnet, the A1 quattro will use a 182bhp version of the VW Group’s 1.4-litre turbocharged and supercharged engine initially, with a 1.6-litre TDI diesel model being added in some markets. An S1 comes later, and will feature a 220bhp 1.6-litre FSI unit. To mark out the A1 quattro, the car gets a subtly larger rear wing and comes in top-spec S Line trim like the prototype pictured. ____________________________________________________________ Funny there's no mention of the 2.0TFSI. :eusa_thin
Google Translate "Im Herbst 2011 startet Audi eine Kleinserie von rund 500 Exemplaren mit einem Zweiliter-Turbo Direkteinspritzer und deutlich mehr als 200 PS." Google translate: "In the fall 2011 Audi launches a small series of around 500 copies with a two-liter turbo direct-injection [engine] and well over 200 hp." Google Translate "Während die beiden A1 quattro-Prototypen noch mit dem 1,4-Liter-Turbobenziner und 186 PS ausgestattet sind, soll die Serienversion erheblich mehr Dampf bekommen. Audi plant, den aus dem A3, A4, A5 und A6 bekannten 2,0-Liter-Vierzylinder-Turbo zu implantieren." Google translate: "While the two A1 quattro prototypes are still equipped with the 1.4-liter turbo gasoline engine and 186 hp, the production version will have considerably more power. Audi plans to implant [the] familiar 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo." Best regards, south
I think the point I was trying to make here was that you made the claim I was wrong (again) but I stated to you it was the information I had at the time, now it appears the the UK press are also getting the same wrong information or you may be wrong on this occasion. Maybe you guys should get off my case and stop trying to discredit everything I say because I am only posting what I am told (rightly or not) and have no hidden agenda.
You know, Footie, it's all about backing up claims we make. You initially said Audi had confirmed the 1.4 for the Audi Quattro, but nowhere can I see official confirmation of this claim. To the contrary, two German outlets report the 2.0TFSI will make it, and they even cite Audi board member Michael Diek that the car would have "way more than 200hp". I have no reason to believe this information is wrong, and even if it is, it's pretty clear that I wasn't talking out of my rearend, but just believed something a magazine attending the predrive event and which turned out to be wrong (doubtful). In short, your latest effort to actually cite a source for things you claim is much appreciated. I hope this is a good sign you took the recent reminder seriously and don't fall back to your old scheme of claiming this or that without any effort to back it up with quotes, links, etc. Best regards, south
