Ever since Volkswagen announced pricing for the production Blue Sport Roadster, it was only a matter of time before Audi would come up with a rendering of their own. Although this looks a bit smaller and despite being both turbo and supercharged it’s got front wheel drive. They are calling it the A1 Targa, to be sold alongside the A1 sportback, convertible and roadster.
Like all the other versions of Audi’s subcompact, the Targa will get both the 140 HP and 170 HP versions of the 1.4 Liter TSI turbo/supercharged power plants currently found in the Golf GT Sport. These unique power train combinations will use Volkswagen’s signature DSG six-speed double-clutch gearbox to drive the front wheels. The German automaker expects that TSI versions will be sales leaders because of an appealing combination of Audi refinement, Vorsprung durch Technik performance and city car economy. The four ringed automaker will offer a 150 HP 1.8 Liter turbocharged engine alongside the high performance TSI unit. For car buyers wanting to capitalize on the economical aspect of the A1, there will also be an entry-level model powered by a 1.6 Liter four cylinder engine making 102 HP and two 2.0 Liter TDI oil-burners rated at 140 HP and 170 HP.
If a German tuning firm like ABT could get their hands on one of these A1 Targas, equip it with a bigger set of wheels, widen the already pronounced fenders and add a lot more boost from both power adders; this little A1 could become a force to be reckoned with.
Although Audi was toying with the idea of bringing the A1 to the U.S., it should surprise no one that Audi has now confirmed its smallest car will stay in Europe. In an inteview with Automotive News, Audi’s global sales and marketing boss, Peter Schwarzenbauer said, "Audi is engaged in an aggressive campaign in the U.S. market to build brand awareness. Until that takes hold, Audi won’t be bringing small cars such as the A1 to the United States."
Part of this decision may also be centered in what a car the size of the A1 may do to Audi’s reputation. Small cars and luxury cars do not intersect well in the minds of Americans. If Audi were to bring something the size of the A1 to the U.S., it would not only have a hard time justifying a lofty price tag, but the A1 may also hurt its premium brand image.
Hummer who? From two importers who have been following the "bigger is better" model for the last few years comes a little redemption. Both Toyota and Audi are considering bringing their smallest models in the line-up to the U.S. market. Even if both iQ and A1 were developed with only the European market in mind, company executives are thinking that these two models might be successful in the U.S.
The A1 (see the latest A1 Sportback Concept unveiled at the Paris Auto Show) is about 10 inches shorter than Audi’s A3. Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi’s worldwide sales and marketing boss said, "A year ago, I would have said no... I think (the market) has changed. Therefore, we definitely have to reconsider the A1."
The A1 concept is a hybrid that combines a turbocharged, 148-hp, 1.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine with an electric motor that boosts torque. While this setup may make production, it is likely that the first production A1s will use a conventional gas-only setup if it appears in the U.S.
Foreign automakers may still be a little weary about sales of small cars in the U.S. Although Americans are becoming more conscious about fuel efficiency, it is a big risk to spend the money to send low-profit small cars to a country where they have historically sold poorly. Both Audi and Toyota have not made any final decisions about their small cars future.
At the Paris Auto Show Audi unveiled the A1 Sportback, the last concept version before the A1 production version that will be revealed in 2009. The difference is not down to the two extra doors alone: the styling of the fivedoor concept vehicle is a consistent development of the three-door study, the Audi A1 project quattro from the year 2007. Surfaces and lines are distinctly tauter and more masculine.
Under the hood Audi placed a 1.4-litre TFSI engine developing 150 hp, whose power is directed to the front wheels by means of the S tronic dual-clutch transmission. A 27 hp electric motor integrated in the drive train is able to deliver up to an additional 110.63 lb-ft of torque when the vehicle is accelerating.
Despite its sporty performance, with acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 200 km/h (124.27 mph), the Audi A1 Sportback concept requires only 3.9 liters of premium fuel per 100 km (60.31 US mpg); CO2 emissions are an efficient 92 g/km (148.06 g/mile)
Press release after the jump.
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At the Paris Auto Show Audi will get a step closer to the production version of the A1 hatchback with the unveiling of the A1 Sportback Concept. The Concept is an evolution of the A1 Metroproject Quattro Concept that was unveiled in Tokyo last year.
Under the hood Audi placed a 150hp 1.4-liter TFSI engine which is combined with a 20Kw (27hp) hybrid unit. The engine is mated to a dual-clutch S-Tronic gearbox.
The A1 Sportback Concept makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in just 7.9 seconds, while the fuel consumption is just 3.9 liters per 100km. Although Audi has announced that they are looking at the A1 in North America, it is unlikely to come here and cannibalize the already small sales of the A3.
The Pairs Motor Show begins this weekend, so more details will follow soon.
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The first glimpse of the 2010 Audi A1 was given at last year’s Tokyo Auto Show with the 3door A1 Metroproject quattro concept. Before we’ll have the chance to see the production version, Audi will also unveil a 5door concept version at the Paris Auto Show. Carscoop reports that the Paris Show concept car will be closer to the production version than the A1 shown in Tokyo.
Audi A1 will go on sale in 2009. It will be built on VW group’s new MQB modular architecture for small and mid-sized cars with transverse engines.
According to AutoExpress the future A1 Cabriolet will look exactly like this when will make its official debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. When will go on sale next year, its biggest competitor will be Mini.
Under the hood of the future A1 Cabriolet, Audi will offer both 140bhp and 170bhp 1.4 TSI turbo and supercharged units currently found in the Golf GT Sport. These will use a six-speed double-clutch gearbox powering the front wheels.
TSI versions are set to be sales leaders, due to their appealing combination of refinement, performance and economy. A 150bhp 1.8 turbo engine will line up alongside the clever TSI unit, and the range will also include an entry-level 1.6 with 102bhp. Two 2.0-litre TDI oil-burners will feature, rated at 140bhp and 170bhp.
The S1 version will be powered by the same engine as the 261bhp S3 when it arrives in 2011.
Audi has already announced its intention to come against Mini into the Premium city car market. The Metroproject Quattro was the first preview of what will be the future Audi A1.
But the coupe version will not be the only version coming from Audi. A roadster version is also under consideration. And here’s how the future Mini Cabrio competitor might look like.
Volkswagen’s small car architecture, which today underpins the VW Polo, Seat Ibiza and Skoda Fabia, will offer the possibility of all-wheel drive for the next generation of VW group small cars.
"The new small-car platform architecture includes an all-wheel drive option," Erich Schmitt, president of Seat said. "Seat won’t offer awd for its new Ibiza, but other group models could use it."
The first use of the latest development of this platform, called PQ25, is for the new Seat Ibiza. The new-generation VW Polo will be the next model later this year, followed by the all-new Audi A1 in late 2009.
The current version of VW’s Cross Polo has the looks of an awd crossover model, but comes with front-wheel drive only. "Think of an awd option for the next generation Cross Polo, or next Audi A1," an VW group source said. "And Audi already has an awd tradition anyway with its Quattro models."
Why are we saying this? Because the latest rendering come from AutoBild, and as you know they have always been very close to the reality! Built as a replacement for the unsuccessful A2, the future A1 will go on sale byt the end of 2009. First unveiled as the Metroproject Quattro concept in 2007, the future A1 will be serious competition for Mini.
Even if the Metroproject was supposed to be a preview of the A1, Audi will not keep the design idea though as it was was disliked internally, because its round shape didn’t look sporty enough. The production car will look more low and stylish, maybe similar to the Audi Shooting Brake concept.
It will be available in three and five-doors version and also different roof options will be available which you can fold, open and move.
Audi will offer the following engines: 1.2-liter TFSI, 85 hp; 1.4-liter TFSI, 122 hp; 1.4-liter TSI, 170 hp; 1.6-liter TDI, 75 hp; 1.6-liter TDI, 90 hp; 1.6-liter TDI, 105 hp. All engines will meet the Euro5 emissions standard and will be available with six-speed manual transmission.
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