A1/S1 Audi A1 Metroproject Quattro Concept

[RikfromBelgium]

here it is being presented at the audi brussels plant, where it's gonna be build in 2010

[image no longer available]source: standaard.be

 

[belfastcub]

really nice design altho i cant see the pillarless door frame making it to production.

I own a mini cooper S and have recently test driven an S3 as a posible replacement, to be honest Audi are a little too highly priced for what thay are.

Altho i do like it, i wont be changing the mini to it!

 

[Yperion]

Welcome to the forum mate.

I agree that S3 is too overpriced when you can get a A3 2.0 TFSI and get similar performance for much less money.

 

[PanterroR]

Preview: 2011 Audi A1 super-mini

Posted on Thursday 27 March 2008




It’s been well documented BMW is developing a new minicar to rival cars like the Mercedes Smart and upcoming Volkswagen Up! (Lupo) family, but Audi too has confirmed it will be joining the fray with the launch of its new A1 compact hatch. The new super-mini is slated to arrive in late 2010 and will be offered with both coupe and cabrio bodystyles.

Unlike their French and Italian counterparts, who specialize in compact and efficient hatchbacks, German carmakers are mostly recognized for building big and thirsty luxury cars. Thus it’s the German labels that will be finding it the hardest to meet Europe’s new carbon emissions regulations set to roll in by 2012.

To reduce their fleet-average emissions levels in line with the new regulations, carmakers like BMW and Audi are focused on increasing the number of compact low-emissions vehicles they sell. This new rendering give us an accurate look as to what to expect, revealing designers will be sticking to the lines of the A1 Metroproject concept car. Some of the elements that are unlikely to make it to production include the exposed aluminum arches, 18in alloys and LED headlights.

The baby Audi will likely feature a series of low capacity TSI and TDI units ranging from 1.4 to 2.0L, and a new mild hybrid model could also be offered. The design will use a small electric motor integrated into the drivetrain, which kicks in during high-load situations.

http://www.motorauthority.com/wp-content/plugins/iimage-gallery.php?idpost=5287&idg=1&idi=1

 

[releaseyourself]

Hi there,
New to the forum

There seems to be a few different production dates for the A1 metroproject floating about, does anyone know if it will be 2009 or 2010?

I placed a deposit on one back in November 2007 and am currently leasing a car so i am not sure if i should lease one for another year this coming december?

Any new info about the A1? I have the press pack from the Tokyo motor show here but was wondering if there was anything new on the news front?

Cheers

 

[SDNR]

The concept is all very cute but not very original or imaginative ......it looks pretty much exactly what it probably doesn't want to be seen as: a Mini wannabe.

 

[Yperion]

Any new info about the A1? I have the press pack from the Tokyo motor show here but was wondering if there was anything new on the news front?

First quarter of 2010 according to latest information.

 

[PanterroR]

Audi's city car stepping closer to production

Even as fuel prices slide back down to pre-crunch levels, the automotive industry knows it's only a temporary respite and continues its gear-up for a new layer of premium small cars. On the German front, BMW is thought to be working on a sub-1-series mini car, Daimler already has its Smart, and now Audi is working to join the club with its own fuel-sipping urban warrior.

The latest reports indicate the car will be based around the same platform as VW's up, and will do battle with the likes of Ford's Ka and the Fiat 500 as well, though only in their most up-level trims. Audi's tiny car will go one step farther than any of the competition on engine design, however, with a choice of either a petrol or diesel version of a 600cc turbocharged two-cylinder expected to lie at its heart.

The small engine will certainly be underpowered for extended highway use, but with CO2 emissions under 100g/km and about 80mpg US (2.9L/100km) fuel efficiency, according to AutoExpress, the car will be an easy to operate, low-tax tool for getting around any major city. An electric powertrain is also being considered, but as yet no details on its capabilities have surfaced.

Positioned below the A1, the tiny city car would also get a 1.2L three-cylinder, which would be more highway-capable than its two-pot brethren. Nevertheless, the up! based vehicle will still be primarily targeted at younger, affluent, urban audiences with an emphasis on technology and style. Audi's A1 Metroproject is expected to be the basis for many of the design elements of the new car.

The fact that so much of the Audi city car's competition is gearing up for U.S. sale and/or production hints that the Audi could be sold in America as well, though poor exchange rates, high transport costs and a generally weak economy could conspire against such a decision. Nevertheless, given the expected production time frame, Audi should have several years to makes its decision.

While the VW version of the up! will be hitting the streets in 2010, the Audi variant will have to wait a while, and is not expected until 2012. For more information and possibilities of what could be in store, check out our earlier preview of the next-gen minicar.


Source: Audi's city car stepping closer to production - MotorAuthority - Car news, reviews, spy shots

 

[PanterroR]

 

[audiman]

Better

 

[audiman]

....but i don't really like this front because it's same the A4

 

[picsoubmw]

 

[Mockenrue]

Latest spy shots

 

[Beemer B773ER]

Is there a reason why Audi used the BMW-debuted psycadelic body tape to try and hide shapes and lines when it's real easy to see where all the lines are on the vehicle ?

Looks like this will be the second Audi to receive the hexagonal grille.

The overall proportions are fairly nice, though it doesn't have the Mini's 'hunkered down' low to the ground stance and proportions, but I guess it'll make up for that by offering a little extra room.
I wonder if this car will even be offered without the S-line sporty styling...

 

[Mockenrue]

Did BMW patent this style of camouflage? I don't think so, and I don't think it's anything new either.

 

[Centurion]

Cute, very cute. The shape resembles that of the Fiat 500 and I will not fall of my chair when I find out that Audi will be offering a similar customization program with a highly decorative interior. I think sales will be spectacular, especially in these economic times when consumers have limited funds for luxuries. Mercedes should fear this car as I anticipate it to be a big nail in the coffin for the SMART car.

 

[EnI]

I think sales will be spectacular, especially in these economic times when consumers have limited funds for luxuries.

Brussels plant where A1 is built has an annual production capacity of 150k units. So that's also the maximum annual sales number that can be reached.
Since a company can only sell as much vehicles as produced. Initially Audi expected to sell 100k of A1 per year, yet last summer they increased the plans: at least 120k unit sales annually - but that was before the crises kicked in.

The shape resembles that of the Fiat 500 and I will not fall of my chair when I find out that Audi will be offering a similar customization program with a highly decorative interior.

It looks more like Fiat 126 to me.

Regarding customization: sure there will be some. But I would be surprised there will be some tacky options like in the case of MINI or F500. A1 is not some funky retro car after all. It's more a competitor to Alfa Romeo MiTo - premium without tacky funkiness ala F500 / MINI. MINI & F500 are icons and tacky opitions fits their characters.