INGOLSTADT, Germany — Audi has revealed the definitive production version of its new 2010 A1 in a series of official photographs prior to the car's world premiere at next month's 2010 Geneva Auto Show.
Set for European sale in June, the stylish three-door hatchback is the first in a whole new range of A1 models planned to join the Audi lineup within the next three years. But don't expect to see the A1 in the U.S. any time soon, though. Despite concerted efforts by Audi to increase its sales performance in North America, the A1 does not form part of its future model lineup for the U.S. A high-ranking source at Audi told us, "We'll monitor response to the car, but it is very unlikely that the A1 will be sold in the U.S., at least during its first generation. Beyond that, it is hard to say what will happen."
Spun off from the same Volkswagen PQ25 platform that underpins the Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Polo, the A1 is clothed in a conventional steel body measuring 155.5 inches in length, 68.5 inches in width and 55.9 inches in height. The A1 rides on a short 97.2-inch wheelbase.
The new car boasts a number of unmistakable Audi design cues, including a large single-frame grille, distinctive headlamp graphics with optional bi-xenon main beams and LED daytime running lamps, squared-off fender flares and a prominent shoulder line.
Buyers will be able to individually tailor the appearance of the new Audi with a number of trim applications. Among these is a roof panel that can be specified in one of four different colors.
European buyers of the front-wheel-drive A1 will initially get to choose between two turbocharged, direct-injection inline-4 engines. The first is a 1.2-liter turbo that delivers 68 horsepower, while the 1.4-liter turbo makes 122 hp. In addition, a 1.6-liter common-rail turbodiesel will be available in both 90 hp and 105 hp iterations.
The high-performance 1.4-liter turbo will be matched with a six-speed manual transmission, but the rest will all have five-speed manuals.
Within the cabin, the 2010 Audi A1 receives a unique simplified dashboard with typical Audi trim. It offers seating for up to four occupants together with 9.4 cubic feet of luggage capacity. An extensive range of optional extras will be offered, including the latest in satellite navigation and an entertainment system based around a 60-gigabyte hard drive and 6.5-inch color monitor.
Inside Line says: So this Audi A1 isn't coming to the U.S., and we're not sure anybody is really going to miss the opportunity to buy a very small car that's very expensive. — Andreas Stahl, Correspondent
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ev56 says:
03:20 PM, 02/09/2010
There's probably a limit to what can be charged for any car, and Audi may have reached it with the A1.