Audi has unveiled its long-anticipated A1 premium hatchback at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Considered the brand’s first true luxury compact, the A1 should give the German brand an answer to BMW ’s popular MINI lineup.
Previewed by the Metroproject Quattro and A1 Sportback concepts, the production A1 will take on BMW ’s MINI brand. Originally thought to be offered in four-door guise only, the official reveals proves the A1 will be available as a three-door hatchback.
Concept versions of the A1 used hybrid powertrains — with electric motors providing Audi ’s signature quattro all-wheel drive — but the production version’s drivetrains have only been confirmed to utilize traditional gas and diesel options.
There will be four engines available in the European market where the A1 is confirmed to go on sale, starting with a 1.2-liter TSFI gas engine that spits out 86 horsepower and 118 lb-ft of torque while achieving 46 mpg. The premium gas engine will be a 1.4-liter TSFI four-cylinder with 122 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. When equipped with the dual-clutch automatic the 1.4-liter engine will return 43 mpg, and 46 with the manual. The 1.2-Liter base engine will get to 62 mph in 12.1 seconds, and the 1.4 reaches the same speed in just 9.2 seconds.
For the diesel fans, Audi will have two 1.6-liter TDI offerings – the first with 90 hp and 169 lb-ft of torque, and the other with 105 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. The slower of the two diesels will take 12.2 seconds to hit 62 mph, and the quicker will do so in 10.8 seconds. Both engines will exhibit mileage of around 60 mpg on the European cycle.
The A1 to features automatic engine stop/start and brake energy regeneration, improving overall fuel economy by about 15 percent.
The A1 is expected to hit the European market shortly after its Geneva debut, but U.S. sales are not currently planned according to Audi – Audi cited the starting price of $22,000 as being too high for American taste. Given the addition of hybrid variants to the A1 line coupled with Audi’s on-again, off-again reports of a U.S. future for the A1, we wouldn’t totally rule it out as of yet.
Audi has reportedly set a sales target between 100,000 and 120,000 units annually.
