PARIS — Audi teased customers at last year's Tokyo auto show with the Metroproject Quattro concept, widely interpreted as an early look at the future A1 minicar. Now the automaker is moving a step closer to production with its A1 Sportback Concept. Although the A1 has not yet been officially unveiled at this week's 2008 Paris Auto Show, Auto Motor und Sport is already reporting the details on the new A1 concept car.
Branded as a "concept," the A1 looks nearly ready for production, with the usual Audi family styling cues evident from most angles, notably the oversize single-frame grille. This car is also quite small — more than 10 inches shorter than its compact sibling, the A3.
The A1 is fitted with a full hybrid powertrain. It features a turbocharged, 148-horsepower 1.4-liter TFSI inline-4 engine that's matched with a 20kW electric motor that provides an extra 110 pound-feet of torque.
Coupled with an S tronic dual-clutch gearbox and a stop-start system, the concept sprints from zero to 60 mph in less than 7.9 seconds and returns a remarkable 60 mpg. Audi also says CO2 emissions are an ultra-low 92 g/km on the European driving cycle.
What this means to you: This one looks mighty hot. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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