First Pics: Audi A1 Officially Official

[George@Fourtitude]

We've come across the first wave of Audi A1 photos via a remote market source. Initial model information, these photos and possibly more shots are scheduled to go live perhaps as early as this evening but since we have the shots and we're not held by an embargo we're going to run them for your viewing pleasure. We've not put watermarks all over them and would appreciate people not clipping our logo from the bottom as a return nod. For those who do, we'll know who you are because you'll have the same crops as us. Click the link at the bottom for 1024 higher res versions of these shots. Enjoy.

Photo Gallery

[Seb-Phoenix]

http://www.audiblog.nl/?p=28544
http://www.autoblog.it/galleri...ali/1

[The Pretender]

btw, Would not buy that.

Modified by The Pretender at 1:45 PM 2/9/2010

[George@Fourtitude]

Looks like this mix at least is public. More pics should be live in less than two hours. I'm going to take these live.

[MihokS5]

Like the interior, not sure on the exterior yet

[A4Jetta]

The interior looks like a 3/4 A3.

[AudiVwMeister]

the 2 tone with the silver on top makes me think of the saturn ion.

dig the car otherwise though

[353S]

Just like the Apple iPad... over hyped for nothing!

[kptkarl]

[Green Hare]

Quote, originally posted by Fourtitude »

The 16-valve engine accelerates the A1 powerfully through the standard sprint in 10.8 seconds before reaching a top speed of 187 km/h (116.20 mph) while consuming an average of just 3.9 liters/100 km (60.31 US mpg).

Um, hello, Audi? What's a Prius??

Seriously... Import this to the US, market the TDI properly, and with figures like that, I would think that they should sell quite well... Even at the straight conversion, today's price from XE.com: 16,000.00 EUR = 22,006.48 USD.

Would YOU pay $22,000 for an Audi that gets 60+ mpg?

[Travis Grundke]

I'm actually surprised that Audi has more or less dismissed the first generation A1 for sale in the US. I can see Audi selling a great number of these in the $25k - $30k price range. It's a lifestyle car, not a general market car (ala Mini Cooper).

Toss the TDI with the suggested mileage and you'd have one heluva winner.

[George@Fourtitude]

There are two reasons really. For one, the segment occupied by the mini is not that large though it does show promise and is growing. Second, this A1 is based on an evolution of the current VW Polo's PQ architecture and that's not overly optimized for US sale. It's not impossible from what I understand, but it's not optimum. The second-gen car will migrate to the group's new MQB modular transverse architecture and that will make it more conducive to US needs and by then the segment presumably will account for more business.

[Green Hare]

So we're already going to be waiting another 3 to 5 years?

Looking more and more like a JSW TDI will be my next car.

[druber]

It's gorgeous, it hits the competition (the Mini) hard and I want one. Bring it to US Audi in both gas and TDI and you have a winner!

[Travis Grundke]

Interesting info there George, thanks. I was under the impression that the A1 would be the first to run the new MQB architecture, but clearly that was wrong.

The next gen A3 is supposed to be on MQB, correct? On that subject, do we have an idea yet what the goals for the MQB are, vis-a-vis architecture, drivetrain, vehicle dynamics, etc.?

Quote, originally posted by George@Fourtitude »

There are two reasons really. For one, the segment occupied by the mini is not that large though it does show promise and is growing. Second, this A1 is based on an evolution of the current VW Polo's PQ architecture and that's not overly optimized for US sale. It's not impossible from what I understand, but it's not optimum. The second-gen car will migrate to the group's new MQB modular transverse architecture and that will make it more conducive to US needs and by then the segment presumably will account for more business.

[George@Fourtitude]

Quote, originally posted by Travis Grundke »

Interesting info there George, thanks. I was under the impression that the A1 would be the first to run the new MQB architecture, but clearly that was wrong. The next gen A3 is supposed to be on MQB, correct? On that subject, do we have an idea yet what the goals for the MQB are, vis-a-vis architecture, drivetrain, vehicle dynamics, etc.?

It was news to me too, but the source was Michael Dick so I don't question it. Looking at the timelines, A3 may be the first on the MQB architecture just as it was first on conversion to the current chassis. But yes, the next A3 will be the new architecture. For Audi, this will underpin A3, TT and eventually A1 as well as (sort of) underpin a mid-engine car based on the Detroit e-tron design. For VW it will underpin pretty much everything on up through Passat and CC. There's a lot of flexibility there as far as dynamics, drivetrain, scaleability, etc. so they will likely vary more in size.... much like A4, A5 and Q5 do today even though they are all roughly termed as B8.

[quailallstar]

I like those wheels a lot. Anyone know the name or part number?

[chernaudi]

Will the A1 have quattro(or haldex, in this case), or will it be front wheel drive only for now?

[George@VWvortex]

looks like fwd only for now. We've not heard mention of AWD except for the concept cars and a hybrid setup with electric motors powering the rear wheels.

[The Pretender]

"S-LINE"

[bzcat]

Quote, originally posted by George@VWvortex »

looks like fwd only for now. We've not heard mention of AWD except for the concept cars and a hybrid setup with electric motors powering the rear wheels.

AWD for a B-car is really overkill, I'm glad they are not wasting time on it.

Will there be a 5 door A1? And will it be called Sportback?

Also, I'm too surprised that this is not a MQB car. I guess this and the new Jetta will be the last of the PQ platform cars?

[George@VWvortex]

Quote, originally posted by bzcat »

AWD for a B-car is really overkill, I'm glad they are not wasting time on it. Will there be a 5 door A1? And will it be called Sportback? Also, I'm too surprised that this is not a MQB car. I guess this and the new Jetta will be the last of the PQ platform cars?

I believe there'll be a 5-door (likely Sportback, that was the name of the A1 concept with 5-doors) and also a cabriolet.

Jetta is a whole other mix, but yeah, primarily PQ. I think the A1 has an independent rear suspension though. The Jetta's losing that.

[A4Jetta]

Will the Sportback called A2 as with the original subcompact Audi?

[George@Fourtitude]

Original compact Audi

but to answer your question, I believe the 5-door will still be A1. A2 is expected to be a separate vehicle.

[DrDomm]

I don't think this car makes sense for Audi NA. They can't sell A3's. American's don't want something smaller with less power, no matter how good the fuel economy.

You might steal a few Prius owners, but it comes at the expense of brand image. Don't do it!

[fxhomie]

The quality of the interior materials outshines BMW's 1 Series, and that model is one class up in size. Best interior in a supermini, by far.

[Phunkshon]

Just spotted in Barcelona -

http://www.autogespot.com/en/i....html

[DrDomm]

Quote, originally posted by Phunkshon »

Just spotted in Barcelona - http://www.autogespot.com/en/i....html

I can't believe they put the TTRS wheels on that little POS.

[ObsessedVWOwner]

wow great pics..im excited for this one!