A1/S1 Official: Audi A1

[EnI]

^

Mind in the premium segment people do not buy cars for the practicability in the first place. It's no near the Golf vs Polo situation.

Also 1er vs MINI - two different brands / products with completely different design & engineering approach.

As you said: there will be cross-shopping in the case of A3 base engine models (petrol & especially diesel) which do represent a vast majority of sales in Europe.

If you need a car for one or max 2 people - with decent boot space for daily shopping, transporting sports bags, and some luggage cases now & then - then in many markets sub-compacts are the way to go. Especially the premium ones. IMO 3dr A3 won't be a great seller anymore. SportBack - yes, 3dr model - I don't think so.

 

[Mockenrue]

Centurion - as a city dweller how many MiTos and Fiat 500s have you seen? I cover around 30,000 miles a year and I've only seen a handful of 500s and a grand total of one MiTo on the roads, but I live in a relatively rural area.

I've no doubt the A1 will be a sales success for Audi, but based on what I've seen the already well-established MINI seems to be its only real competition (speaking from a UK perspective).

 

[Centurion]

Mockenrue:

The MiTo, just like Alfa cars in general, is a rare sight. I see more Ferrari's than I see MiTo. As for the Fiat 500, it does have a degree of popularity here and is a regular sight, but the quintessential hatch back in London is the Mini. It's literarily everywhere. Brit's are patriotic about the cars. The Range Rover is the most popular SUV and the Flying Spur outsells the 7-Series.

A1 sales will close in Mini but I can see it easilly overtake the Fiat 500 in sales. Audi is a very exciting brand, and one only needs to visit their Mayfair showroom to understand why. Sitting pretty on the floor the S5, R8 V10, RS6, A6 S-line and Q7 S-line look extraordinary. Just looking at those cars alone will sell the A1, very much like how people buy the A-Class because it resembles the S-Class. Audi are now a front runner luxury brand and can confidently sell the A1 like biscuits.

Mind in the premium segment people do not buy cars for the practicability in the first place. It's no near the Golf vs Polo situation.

Regardless of the badge, cars priced under €20,000 are barely premium as oppossed to a E350 with optional 19 inch rims, pano roof and full leather. So rationality still plays a big role in this price bracket, contrary to an X6 driver who bought the car just because they felt like it.

 

[braaf]

Audi are now a front runner luxury brand and can confidently sell the A1 like biscuits.

I have to disagree with that comment. To me Audi are pretenders, not because of the whole VW thing cos they can't really help that. It's more a case of they still have to prove themselves.

Don't get me wrong they still make nice cars, but it's not enough to sway me from a Merc or Beemer. And I believe that there are 10 of me and 1 or 2 who would definitely buy an Audi.

 

[bmer]

No quattro for A1/S1???!

Autocar:

...the S1 will use a turbocharged 1.4-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine that will be good for around 180bhp.

This motor will be mated to Audi’s seven-speed, dual-clutch S-tronic gearbox. And it won’t have four-wheel drive either, making it the first performance Audi to come as a front-drive model as standard.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/Audi-A1/247401/

So if even the S1 doesn't get quattro then there is not much hope for the A1.

 

[Human]

I think I need to change pants. This is impeccable attention to detail for such a small car. It's simply an Audi R8 at a small fraction of the price -- the coolness and wow factor is there. Astounding design bot in and out -- especially on the inside where the car looks world class. A big bonus is that it doesn't look too much liek a toy car either, a modern cabin that will age beautifully. Best interior in the segment without a doubt.

I just love this material used...matt, soft and screams QUALITY.

I have to disagree with that comment. To me Audi are pretenders, not because of the whole VW thing cos they can't really help that. It's more a case of they still have to prove themselves.

Don't get me wrong they still make nice cars, but it's not enough to sway me from a Merc or Beemer. And I believe that there are 10 of me and 1 or 2 who would definitely buy an Audi.

^^^
DITTO!

PS: The Mini owns this segment AND it's not going to change.

 

[DaSilva]

^^^
PS: The Mini owns this segment AND it's not going to change.

Time will tell, I beg to differ.
A1's engines are new hightec engines both petrol and TDI.
Audi has a great image (at least in Norway)
The fact that you now can get a brand new Audi for the same
amount of cash like a Polo with 3 years of warrenty will trigger alot of people to buy one/Audi.

I think this will be a huge hit... and I am quite sure.
The Mini has had many faults throug the years...
The Fiat 500's 15 minutes of fame is over...
MiTo is Alfa, Alfas look good but quality is questionable..

I think it's time for A1 and those at least 15 minutes of fame.
I think it will last forever...

 

[Centurion]

PS: The Mini owns this segment AND it's not going to change.

Things will change and the A1 will enjoy success just like the R8 is stealing sales from Ferrari and Lamborghini.

 

[ree]

Wow! What a fantastic car!! It really is great looking with a nice interior.

 

[Mr Robert]

Things will change and the A1 will enjoy success just like the R8 is stealing sales from Ferrari and Lamborghini.

Thank you, never thaught of my little
MINI as the Ferrari of the segment, I promise to enjoy it even more the next time I take it for a spirited drive around the countryside

 

[mini_cooper4]

S1 AWD and N/A engine... that's what I'm wainting for.

I hate Auidis but that one is amazing...
It's the only car that's 100% sure to be in my garage atm... and it's an Audi... crazy

I'm 100% sold to this car... if my girl likes it too

 

[Human]

Time will tell, I beg to differ.
A1's engines are new hightec engines both petrol and TDI.
Audi has a great image (at least in Norway)
The fact that you now can get a brand new Audi for the same
amount of cash like a Polo with 3 years of warrenty will trigger alot of people to buy one/Audi.

I think this will be a huge hit... and I am quite sure.
The Mini has had many faults throug the years...
The Fiat 500's 15 minutes of fame is over...
MiTo is Alfa, Alfas look good but quality is questionable..

I think it's time for A1 and those at least 15 minutes of fame.
I think it will last forever...

Given time will tell AND that would be a great topic for discussion over the next 2-5 years.

I myself (even if I 'hate' Audi's) will admit that the brand has presence..though in this already tough segment the Mini will be hard to beat and IMO will reign supreme in the long run.
Be sure that BMW + PSA will have new engines that would/could be better than VWAG offerings to keep up or better their offerings.
Mini's past faults is what will make it strong in the long run, Mini is THE biggest niche hit of All Time IMO - and I think it would hardly change...

 

[bmer]

S1 AWD and N/A engine... that's what I'm wainting for.

According to Autocar the first one won't happen...

 

[Mockenrue]

First A1 spotted in the wild



ETA - it looks like Autogespot don't allow image hotlinking so please click on the link to see the pictures.

Source article: http://www.autogespot.com/en/item/6736/audis-little-one-shows-its-face-in-the-wild-the-a1-is-spotted!.html

 

[DaSilva]

Audi A1 picture

 

[Mr Robert]

Those IRL pictures really made the A1 look like the love child of a Fiat 500 and a Citroën Pluriel!

 

[DaSilva]

Those IRL pictures really made the A1 look like the love child of a Fiat 500 and a Citroën Pluriel!

? LOL

But pictures I only see one ?

 

[Mockenrue]

There is only one. Sorry, I should've written 'picture' instead of 'pictures' in my original post.

 

[Mr Robert]

? LOL

But pictures I only see one ?

Yep, only one. At first I thaught there were two but it was the same, only in different sizes

 

[Tumbo]