Audi A1 Review
Audi is on an overdrive for the past few years. In less than a decade it has captured drivers’ imagination with the R8, revitalized the coupé and roadster market with the TT and also had fair amount of success with the A3 and A4 in terms of volumes. The brand has also enjoyed sweet victories at the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours race and hasn’t stopped looking at new ideas with the A5 or A7. So are there dark spots somewhere in this regime? We can spot one, and it also depends on how you look at it.
“Audi wishes to create similar success with the A1, what BMW has done with the MINI”
If you look at it as an engineering solution in the aluminum bodied tallboy A2 (introduced in the 80s), without doubt it was a major breakthrough. However, it was a commercial flop (due to its exotic pricing) in Europe. But that’s a thing of the past since the market dynamics have changed, more and more premium brands are looking at the compact segment and for Audi, a great opportunity to rekindle its interest in the compact segment. In fact, few may be aware that Audi had a model known as 50 which it produced in 1974, which went on to become the first Volkswagen Polo. It is widely believed that the success of BMW with MINI and Fiat with the 500 have motivated Audi to look into the segment once again. Using the current VW Polo’s platform as its base, with the Audi A1 (and its variants), the German automaker thinks its premium supermini can hit the spot in the market with more efficient packaging and superior features. And keeping the youth in mind, Audi offers plenty of scope to customise the car besides offering a range of efficient engines from its stable.
Head over to the next page to read about the Audi A1’s exteriors.
Exteriors – Although the Audi A1 is mechanically based on the Volkswagen Polo, its production design is tightly integrated into the brand’s design language and so is its performance and handling. What’s more, Audi has taken a lot of ideas and innovations from its 2007 Audi A1 project quattro concept car and converted them into series production model. On that account the A1 is not a re-bodied Polo, rather a re-engineered model.
“The design of the Audi A1 is neat and attractive”
The front end bears an unmistakable family resemblance with bigger siblings, but features unique accents and detailing. The single-frame grille, for example, is harmoniously integrated into the front end and with its angled top corners represents a new evolutionary stage. Its braces are arranged horizontally to emphasize the width of the front. The large, plastically modeled air intakes with their horizontal bars also contribute to the sporty appearance of the Audi A1. The fog lights are located in their outer corners. The three-dimensionally styled headlights also have their own special look. A strongly curved wing structures the interior of the headlights. As with every Audi, the daytime LED running lights are standard which appear as a homogenous strip that follows the profile of the wing. With the optional xenon plus units, the daytime running lights are implemented using LEDs and a light guide.
However, the most powerful design element in the car is what Audi says is the ‘tornado line’. It’s most prominent when the car is viewed from the side where the upper edge of the bonnet extends below the side windows to the rear end, which reminds one of the TT. According to the designers, it is the point where the chiseled bonnet meets the mudguards that defines the point of origin for this design element called the tornado line which then continues over the doors to the rear end. Meanwhile, there’s an extra crease-line running closely and precisely above the wheel wells, which provide shelter to wheels measuring up to 18in in diameter.
As part of the lifestyle-cum-bespoke options to customers, the sportily flowing roof arch will be available in one of four contrasting colours. The arch flow into a C-pillar is flatter than on the TT, giving the rear end a dynamic outline that is further emphasized by the roof spoiler.
When viewed from the rear, the car resembles the Volvo C30 in some ways as the rear is wider. The luggage compartment is accessed through a liftgate. Rear lamps are combined with xenon bulbs and LEDs, but cannot be seen when the luggage compartment hatch is open. Hence, Audi decided to include additional LED lamps in its broad side flanks. Meanwhile, a sporty black diffuser in the skirt at the bottom of the rear valance signs off the rear while depending on the engine, the exhaust system ends in one or two tailpipes on the left side. With 0.32 coefficient of drag for the base model, the newest Audi should be among the most aerodynamic cars in its class.
Head over to the next page to read about the Audi A1’s interiors and powertrains.
Interiors – As a newcomer, the new car’s inner trappings should be familiar to those with experience behind the Audi’s compact models. The A1’s dashboard and central control layout is clearly of the same vein, however there are some specific design related changes which have been designed to offer sporty looks with bespoke options. As expected the build quality is high and so is the equipment level which also includes a multimedia package and satnav. The screen for the satnav neatly slides in and out the dash and it angled perfectly in line with the driver’s sight. Instruments a large and are grouped together like its bigger cousins. With the LED interior lighting package, the A1 brings 100% LED technology to an interior in the premium compact class for the first time.
Although, several petrol and diesel powertrains will be offered with six speed manual or S-tronic automatic transmission, the engine for India will be the 1.2 or 1.4-litre four cylinder TFSIs mated to either gearbox. Both engines in the line-up also benefit from Audi’s modular technology, one of them being the start-stop system. The base engine, the 1.2 TFSI, produces 86 hp. Particularly effective thermal management contributes to its low fuel consumption of 19.6 km/l. The two 1.4-litre TFSI engines produce 122 hp and 185 hp. The top-of-the-line gasoline engine is supercharged and turbocharged, resulting in 250 Nm of torque, a 0 to 100 km/h time of 7.0 seconds and a top speed of 227 km/h .
On the safety front, besides a stiff body shell, the car comes with two front airbags, side airbags in the backrests of the front seats and two curtain head airbags as standard kit. Belt tensioners and belt force limiters plus the Audi integral headrest system round out the package of retention systems. Isofix child seat anchor points in the rear are standard. With a base weight of only 1,045kg, the A1 promises to be the lightest vehicle in its class. The car gets ESP packaged with electronic differential lock.
The front suspension comprises a MacPherson construction with lower triangular wishbones, while the rear uses torsion beam. Steering is electro-hydraulic rack-and-pinion power. At only 81cm, the front overhang is unusually short and depending on the engine, only between 61 and 63 per cent of the weight rests on the front axle. A number of details contribute to this, such as the position of the battery, which with most engine options is underneath the luggage compartment.
To pamper young customers of the A1, Audi is offering several trim lines and also the S line exterior package gives the model an even more dynamic appearance thanks to such details as chiseled sill tops and a large roof spoiler. Audi offers optional 17in wheels, with some designs featuring bicolour designs, and wide-format 215/40 tyres. Quattro GmbH will also offer 18in wheels and wide-format 225/35 tyres. Climb inside the car and things definitely get better as Audi’s best design and craftsmanship is evident all around, be it the plastics, leather, trims or controls.
Head over to the next page to read the Audi A1’s driving impressions and conclusion.
Driving impressions – And with the smaller of the petrol engines under its bonnet you need to keep the revs up to get anything like brisk performance from it. On the handling front, Audi wants the front-wheel-drive Audi A1 to be the sportiest car in the compact class. In Berlin, where the roads are more of a maze, during our first encounter we found it to be nimble and agile in the city; steady and precise on interurban roads, and generally comfortable on the highway. The chassis appears quite modern with the wide track and balanced weight distribution. For a front-wheel drive this we think was a key engineering challenge.
The car with the 1.2-litre powertrain felt a bit underpowered while the bigger by 200cc engine could manage some consolation in the acceleration department. While the car feels good on road, it doesn’t feel as planted nor does its steering feedback offer that sharpness to the driver, although with a heavy feel to its steering, it gives the impression of a bigger car. It seems the performance focus is reserved for the Quattro (all-wheel-drive) version with the 2.0-litre TSFI turbo that will join the line-up at a later date depending on market.
Conclusion – We think Audi’s idea is to promote this car more as a lifestyle entry model will work better than trying to promote is a direct MINI rival. While in the current package it won’t score high points in the performance or handling department, it does score where most cars in this segment are weak – interior packaging and styling options.
The Audi A1 might not make it to India anytime soon, but it is a formidable rival to the MINI.