Mr Robert
Kraftwagen König
It most certainly could! This segment has been dominated by MINI for a few years and that with a quite different product. The A1 must be regarded as a sought after alternative to the MINI's more sporty orientation.
A1/S1 Audi A1 - First Drives (AutoExpress, Autocar, …) [former: thumbs up from AutoExpress]
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- Start date
The Audi A1 is a luxury supermini 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.
It most certainly could! This segment has been dominated by MINI for a few years and that with a quite different product. The A1 must be regarded as a sought after alternative to the MINI's more sporty orientation.
I am sure that the S1 will provide a similar driving experience to that of the Mini but I didn't expect the normal S/E and Sport to go down that route, as for the S-Line, well I am disappointed to hear that EVO found it poor in this respect but not surprised, Audi fail to see their S-Line models as true driver versions of the normal.
Autoexpress test A1
Audi A1
At last, we drive new premium baby on British roads... and give our verdict
[image no longer available]images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_804/car_photo_402301_7.jpg
Auto Express Car Reviews
Text: Mat Watson / Photos: Otis Clay
October 2010
Style, quality and desirability – that’s what buyers expect from an Audi. And now, the German brand has distilled its values into a much smaller package with the hotly anticipated A1. But how will the pocket-sized premium hatch cope on UK roads?
Link to video
Unlike its MINI main rival, which is designed and built by BMW, this new small car does not create an Audi sub-brand. Instead, it’s simply another model in the firm’s already expansive range which enables people to enjoy the same ownership experience as with an A4, A6 or even an A8 limousine.
For instance, you can specify the A1 with a wide range of options you’d normally expect to find only on larger cars. The virtually endless upgrades even include Audi’s new Multi Media Interface 3G with sat-nav hard drive and 20GB of music storage, which until now has been offered solely on the A8.
What’s more, as with the MINI, buyers can personalise their car’s looks with mild exterior and interior styling options. Little wonder that while the A1 starts at just over £13,000, some early orders have worked out at £25,000.
So, is such a small car really worth this much? Well, the A1 stands head and shoulders above the competition in one respect: quality. On the outside it oozes modern chic, and the cabin has an upmarket feel like no other car of this size. The solid metallic switches plus soft-touch dash – topped off by a standard-fit pop-up central LCD display – are all a pleasure to use.
Life is good for those in the back, too. Although the sloping roof means tall adults will struggle for headroom, legroom is more impressive. The boot is a reasonable 265 litres – around 15 litres less than in a VW Polo – and practicality is boosted by rear seats which fold down to give a flat load bay. Overall, the A1 seems very grown-up inside; it even makes the MINI appear childish. And this big-car feel continues on the move.
The first thing that grabs you is just how incredibly quiet it is, even at motorway speeds. On twisty roads it fills you with total confidence, carrying over the reassuring grip and unshakable body control seen in larger Audis. Sadly, it also shares other models’ minimal steering feedback, and as a result is ultimately not as much fun to drive as a MINI.
Another downside is the hard ride. While it never feels unsettled, you do get a nasty jolt whenever you hit a speed hump or a pothole. This means the A1 doesn’t feel quite as comfortable as the Polo, with which it shares its underpinnings. But our car was riding on optional 17-inch alloys and, as the Sport model, had firmer suspension settings, too.
It also boasted the cracking 1.4-litre TSI petrol turbo. The economical and punchy unit works well with Audi’s S tronic seven-speed dual-clutch paddleshift box, even when you leave it in auto mode. While the engine likes to rev, there’s decent mid-range torque because it’s turbocharged.
Unfortunately, the transmission isn’t as involving as the standard six-speed manual, plus it adds £1,450 to the price. But the fact it reduces CO2 emissions slightly, and brings the annual road tax bill down by £60 to £30, is some consolation.
Whichever gearbox you choose, though, the A1 is a very impressive package. Not only is it the most upmarket-feeling small car, but the fact sales will be limited to 18,000 a year means it should be more exclusive than the MINI, too.
Rival: MINI Cooper
started the premium small car sector and is still the benchmark. Unique style, cheeky sense of fun and sparkling driving dynamics have attracted a cult following.
Audi A1
At last, we drive new premium baby on British roads... and give our verdict
[image no longer available]images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_804/car_photo_402301_7.jpg
Auto Express Car Reviews
Text: Mat Watson / Photos: Otis Clay
October 2010
- Rating:
Style, quality and desirability – that’s what buyers expect from an Audi. And now, the German brand has distilled its values into a much smaller package with the hotly anticipated A1. But how will the pocket-sized premium hatch cope on UK roads?
Link to video
Unlike its MINI main rival, which is designed and built by BMW, this new small car does not create an Audi sub-brand. Instead, it’s simply another model in the firm’s already expansive range which enables people to enjoy the same ownership experience as with an A4, A6 or even an A8 limousine.
For instance, you can specify the A1 with a wide range of options you’d normally expect to find only on larger cars. The virtually endless upgrades even include Audi’s new Multi Media Interface 3G with sat-nav hard drive and 20GB of music storage, which until now has been offered solely on the A8.
What’s more, as with the MINI, buyers can personalise their car’s looks with mild exterior and interior styling options. Little wonder that while the A1 starts at just over £13,000, some early orders have worked out at £25,000.
So, is such a small car really worth this much? Well, the A1 stands head and shoulders above the competition in one respect: quality. On the outside it oozes modern chic, and the cabin has an upmarket feel like no other car of this size. The solid metallic switches plus soft-touch dash – topped off by a standard-fit pop-up central LCD display – are all a pleasure to use.
Life is good for those in the back, too. Although the sloping roof means tall adults will struggle for headroom, legroom is more impressive. The boot is a reasonable 265 litres – around 15 litres less than in a VW Polo – and practicality is boosted by rear seats which fold down to give a flat load bay. Overall, the A1 seems very grown-up inside; it even makes the MINI appear childish. And this big-car feel continues on the move.
The first thing that grabs you is just how incredibly quiet it is, even at motorway speeds. On twisty roads it fills you with total confidence, carrying over the reassuring grip and unshakable body control seen in larger Audis. Sadly, it also shares other models’ minimal steering feedback, and as a result is ultimately not as much fun to drive as a MINI.
Another downside is the hard ride. While it never feels unsettled, you do get a nasty jolt whenever you hit a speed hump or a pothole. This means the A1 doesn’t feel quite as comfortable as the Polo, with which it shares its underpinnings. But our car was riding on optional 17-inch alloys and, as the Sport model, had firmer suspension settings, too.
It also boasted the cracking 1.4-litre TSI petrol turbo. The economical and punchy unit works well with Audi’s S tronic seven-speed dual-clutch paddleshift box, even when you leave it in auto mode. While the engine likes to rev, there’s decent mid-range torque because it’s turbocharged.
Unfortunately, the transmission isn’t as involving as the standard six-speed manual, plus it adds £1,450 to the price. But the fact it reduces CO2 emissions slightly, and brings the annual road tax bill down by £60 to £30, is some consolation.
Whichever gearbox you choose, though, the A1 is a very impressive package. Not only is it the most upmarket-feeling small car, but the fact sales will be limited to 18,000 a year means it should be more exclusive than the MINI, too.
Rival: MINI Cooper
started the premium small car sector and is still the benchmark. Unique style, cheeky sense of fun and sparkling driving dynamics have attracted a cult following.
Human
You. The Road. Nothing else.
MINI for me
MINI for me
For pure entertainment I would have to agree, well until we see the final spec of the S1 that is.
This argument will always be leveled at the A1, A3 because of their platform/parts share within the VAG group but drive both the A1 and Polo, though their is indeed similarities there is enough uniqueness in their design and feel to distance themselves. This might be something that at the moment the Mini doesn't share, though we know in the future the Mini will share with sub 1er BMW products and fall into the same argument. Personally I am a great fan of the Mini but it's too impractical to be anything other then a niche product, a highly desirable one but still not the first choice for most families or mums which is why BMW see an opening for a product under their own branding to sell directly against the A1.
I think the S1 if the output figures suggested are truly will take pure performance on this class of hot hatch to another level, likewise total grip. Whether all of this will tranlate to pure entertainment and a playful chassis is debateable, one thing would be sure, it's would be a rollercoaster ride at break neck speed down a back road and I would reckon it could with these figures out smart some rather tasty and more expensive machinery.
Audi A1 1.4 Sport - Cars Guide - Australia - English
The German has served up quality with a sprinkle of spice with its A1 small car but now it's taking aim at the serious side of its main rival. The Audi A1 Sport is priced hard up against the Mini Cooper S Chilli but Audi claims its hatch is faster and more fuel efficient. Let the battle begin.
The word 'Sport' says it all - a higher performance model that uses all the strengths of the seven-month-old A1 with the oomph nicked from parent company, Volkswagen. But it's too crude and not entirely accurate to say that the A1 Sport is just a more luxurious - and expensive - version of the Volkswagen Polo.
Yes, they share the platform and the basic drivetrain. But they drive very differently.
VALUE
As I say, compare the $27,790 three-door Polo GTI with the three-door A1 Sport at $42,500 and you'd feel dudded at the traffic lights. They're not the same car. Buy the VW and you don't get the Audi's level of equipment and finish - though the Polo is damn good - let alone its arguably more trendy styling.
The price reflects upgraded materials and equipment, though the option list is extensive and expensive and even the colour-contrasting roof arch - the design highlight of the car - is an extra $720. Standard specs include LED daytime lights, rear park sensors, 17-inch alloys, Bluetooth with voice control and climate airconditioning. Sat-nav is an extra $3600.
DESIGN
Built like a bubble and with extremely short overhangs, the A1 is blunt, efficient and perfectly packaged for cities. It seats four - though gets a bit tight in the back - and has great luggage flexibility thanks to its flexible seating. On top of that, it's also quite appealing and appeases both sexes - though Audi is targeting a predominant male audience with the lower, more aggressive stance of the Sport.
TECHNOLOGY
Polo's turbocharged and supercharged 1.4-litre small-squirt four gets an extra 4kW in the Audi - now 136kW - and has its weight down to a featherweight 1190kg (Polo is 1189kg). The engine is sublime. In the Audi, it feels quieter and less frenetic - possibly dulled by extra sound deadening - but certainly has more than enough go.
Only the seven-speed S-tronic (Audi's name for DSG) auto is available, with paddle shifters an option. But better than all this is the compliance of the ride. It is vastly better than the harshness of the Mini and though the latter will probably hang on longer through fast corners and be a more sparkling ride, the truth is that the days of fanging are over and most motorists ant comfort.
SAFETY
No surprises here - it's an Audi and everything is top-shelf occupant protection and active safety. Six airbags, all the electronic aids and lap-sash belts for everyone. Brakes are brilliant but the rear discs are tiny - about the size of a child's saucer in the toy tea set - and don't radiate confidence. In fact, they're already over-engineered and on test, showed they really pull up the little car well.
DRIVING
Audi laid out a track at an airport for a fang and that showed the Sport has off-mark sparkle and great cornering. But that's only a fraction of how good this thing is. Given that most of us live in cities, of more interest is how the car handles the crap road surfaces and dodgey motorists. The trick here is to make a car that is compact for the narrow roads and meandering neighbouring traffic, make it easy to park, have great visibility and yet make it feel effortless.
As the Audi A1 Sport targets the novice premium buyer - in fact Audi says A1 buyers are nearly all first-time Audi buyers - it has to deliver all this with comfort, quietness and a sense that the car has better than premium-class quality. The A1 delivers on all counts and the Sport just magnifies the bits about handling and acceleration.
It is surprisingly quick off the mark, hitting 100km/h in 6.9 seconds compared with the Cooper S at 7.2 seconds, but it's the agility of the chassis that makes it such a delight to drive.
One more thing - I drove the Skoda Fabia RS in its homeland recently and noted that it also shares the Polo GTI innards. Yet the Fabia didn't have the Polo's skitterish manners through corners. It felt more connected with the bitumen.
The A1 Sport is better again - like Audi used the Fabia as the base and honed its characteristics.
VERDICT
There's really only the Mini Cooper S that targets the A1 Sport - in price, performance and market. I prefer to fang the Cooper S but prefer the comfort and quality of the Audi. I'm a simple person so the Audi's dashboard is more logical for my small brain to comprehend. Audi has picked up the cues of the Polo GTI and made them better.
Does that makes the A1 Sport a better car? Not necessarily. It makes the A1 Sport attract a different buyer - one who's looking for a premium hatch and one who is unlikely to consider a Polo. After all, it's all about looking the part.
Link
The German has served up quality with a sprinkle of spice with its A1 small car but now it's taking aim at the serious side of its main rival. The Audi A1 Sport is priced hard up against the Mini Cooper S Chilli but Audi claims its hatch is faster and more fuel efficient. Let the battle begin.
The word 'Sport' says it all - a higher performance model that uses all the strengths of the seven-month-old A1 with the oomph nicked from parent company, Volkswagen. But it's too crude and not entirely accurate to say that the A1 Sport is just a more luxurious - and expensive - version of the Volkswagen Polo.
Yes, they share the platform and the basic drivetrain. But they drive very differently.
VALUE
As I say, compare the $27,790 three-door Polo GTI with the three-door A1 Sport at $42,500 and you'd feel dudded at the traffic lights. They're not the same car. Buy the VW and you don't get the Audi's level of equipment and finish - though the Polo is damn good - let alone its arguably more trendy styling.
The price reflects upgraded materials and equipment, though the option list is extensive and expensive and even the colour-contrasting roof arch - the design highlight of the car - is an extra $720. Standard specs include LED daytime lights, rear park sensors, 17-inch alloys, Bluetooth with voice control and climate airconditioning. Sat-nav is an extra $3600.
DESIGN
Built like a bubble and with extremely short overhangs, the A1 is blunt, efficient and perfectly packaged for cities. It seats four - though gets a bit tight in the back - and has great luggage flexibility thanks to its flexible seating. On top of that, it's also quite appealing and appeases both sexes - though Audi is targeting a predominant male audience with the lower, more aggressive stance of the Sport.
TECHNOLOGY
Polo's turbocharged and supercharged 1.4-litre small-squirt four gets an extra 4kW in the Audi - now 136kW - and has its weight down to a featherweight 1190kg (Polo is 1189kg). The engine is sublime. In the Audi, it feels quieter and less frenetic - possibly dulled by extra sound deadening - but certainly has more than enough go.
Only the seven-speed S-tronic (Audi's name for DSG) auto is available, with paddle shifters an option. But better than all this is the compliance of the ride. It is vastly better than the harshness of the Mini and though the latter will probably hang on longer through fast corners and be a more sparkling ride, the truth is that the days of fanging are over and most motorists ant comfort.
SAFETY
No surprises here - it's an Audi and everything is top-shelf occupant protection and active safety. Six airbags, all the electronic aids and lap-sash belts for everyone. Brakes are brilliant but the rear discs are tiny - about the size of a child's saucer in the toy tea set - and don't radiate confidence. In fact, they're already over-engineered and on test, showed they really pull up the little car well.
DRIVING
Audi laid out a track at an airport for a fang and that showed the Sport has off-mark sparkle and great cornering. But that's only a fraction of how good this thing is. Given that most of us live in cities, of more interest is how the car handles the crap road surfaces and dodgey motorists. The trick here is to make a car that is compact for the narrow roads and meandering neighbouring traffic, make it easy to park, have great visibility and yet make it feel effortless.
As the Audi A1 Sport targets the novice premium buyer - in fact Audi says A1 buyers are nearly all first-time Audi buyers - it has to deliver all this with comfort, quietness and a sense that the car has better than premium-class quality. The A1 delivers on all counts and the Sport just magnifies the bits about handling and acceleration.
It is surprisingly quick off the mark, hitting 100km/h in 6.9 seconds compared with the Cooper S at 7.2 seconds, but it's the agility of the chassis that makes it such a delight to drive.
One more thing - I drove the Skoda Fabia RS in its homeland recently and noted that it also shares the Polo GTI innards. Yet the Fabia didn't have the Polo's skitterish manners through corners. It felt more connected with the bitumen.
The A1 Sport is better again - like Audi used the Fabia as the base and honed its characteristics.
VERDICT
There's really only the Mini Cooper S that targets the A1 Sport - in price, performance and market. I prefer to fang the Cooper S but prefer the comfort and quality of the Audi. I'm a simple person so the Audi's dashboard is more logical for my small brain to comprehend. Audi has picked up the cues of the Polo GTI and made them better.
Does that makes the A1 Sport a better car? Not necessarily. It makes the A1 Sport attract a different buyer - one who's looking for a premium hatch and one who is unlikely to consider a Polo. After all, it's all about looking the part.
Link
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Audi
Audi AG is a German automotive manufacturer of luxury vehicles
headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. A subsidiary of the
Volkswagen Group, the company’s origins date back to the early 20th
century and the initial enterprises (Horch and the Audiwerke) founded
by engineer August Horch (1868–1951). Two other manufacturers (DKW
and Wanderer) also contributed to the foundation of Auto Union in 1932.
The modern Audi era began in the 1960s, when Volkswagen acquired Auto
Union from Daimler-Benz, and merged it with NSU Motorenwerke in 1969.
Official website: Audi (Global), Audi (USA)
Official website: Audi (Global), Audi (USA)
