New Audi A1 Sportback

2012 Audi A1 Sportback

Audi is extending the A1 family – the A1 Sportback is rolling up to the starting line in early 2012. The compact five-door is emotional, individual and youthful, sporty and efficient. Audi offers it with seven powerful and efficient engines, the high-end S tronic transmission and numerous multimedia features.

Measuring 3.95 meters (12.96 ft) in length, the Audi A1 Sportback is the compact A1 Sportback for a young, urban public. Its design identifies it as a member of the large Audi family. The front is dominated by the single-frame grille with the beveled upper corners. If the headlights are equipped with the optional xenon plus lights, LEDs are used for the daytime running lights. The sculpted tail lights are also equipped with light-emitting diodes in this case.

The engine hood and the rear hatch wrap around the body, the shoulder line encircles the entire car and the elegantly flowing roof with its integrated spoiler transitions to a steeply sloped C-pillar. A contrast roof is optionally available in one of three colors.

High- and ultra high-strength steels comprise roughly two-thirds of the Audi A1 Sportback’s body. With its strict adherence to lightweight construction, the body lays the groundwork for the low gross weight – equipped with the 1.2 TFSI, the five-door model tips the scales at just 1,065 kilograms (2,347.92 lb). The body’s rigidity, high level of safety and acoustic comfort provide for t he composed, sportily precise feeling of the A1 Sportback.

Interior, equipment and infotainment

The interior of the Audi A1 Sportback is spacious, bright and airy. With its stepped front, the instrument panel resembles an airplane wing; the round air vents bear hints of jet engines. The center console is inclined slightly toward the driver; the console on the center tunnel has similarities with the rear of a sailing yacht.

The roof of the Audi A1 Sportback extends farther back than in the three-door model, providing 11 millimeters more rear seat headroom. It comes standard with four seats, with a fifth seat available at no extra charge.

The clean, clear controls and excellent workmanship are classic Audi strengths. Many carefully designed details document the premium character of the A1 Sportback, while fresh colors emphasize its youthfulness. Whether colored air vent sleeves or fine leather upholstery, customers have countless possibilities for
customizing the car to reflect their individual lifestyle.

The entry-level model costs €16,950 and comes standard with air conditioning and four power windows. Besides the Attraction and Ambition trim lines, a number of packages providing sporty, elegant or even exclusive accents are also available. High-end options range from deluxe automatic air conditioning and the
convenience key to a leather multifunction sport steering wheel with shift paddles. Customers can also order a variety of exterior and interior decal kits, even after the initial sale.

The range of infotainment and multimedia systems, topped by MMI navigation plus, sets standards in this segment. The high-end system features a hard disk, the MMI operating principle, a DVD drive and intelligent voice control. The monitor, which folds out from the instrument panel, displays three-dimensional
graphics in high resolution. The 465 watt Bose surround sound system is just one example of the high-end complementary modules available from Audi.

The optional Bluetooth online car phone brings Audi connect, the versatile online services from Audi, to the A1 Sportback. Audi traffic information online, for example, provides a precise and up-to-the-minute picture of traffic on the chosen route. A WLAN hotspot connects the passengers’ mobile devices to the Internet
and makes web radio available in the A1 Sportback.

Drivetrain

The Audi A1 Sportback is available with a choice of seven four-cylinder engines: three TDI and four TFSI units. Their performance range extends from 63 kW (86 hp) to 136 kW (185 hp). All of the engines follow the downsizing principle – they substitute turbocharging for displacement and draw their fuel through direct
injection units. All powerplants except the 1.6 TDI with S tronic and the top-of-the line gasoline engine are
equipped with a start-stop system. The 2.0 TDI with 105 kW (143 hp) and the 1.4 TFSI with 103 kW (140 hp) and cylinder on demand technology will follow later.

Regardless of the engine, the A1 Sportback is impressively efficient. For example, the 1.6 TDI paired with a manual transmission consumes on average just 3.8 liters of diesel fuel per 100 km (61.90 US mpg), corresponding to 99 grams CO per km (159.33 g/mile). When equipped with the S tronic, these figures are
4.2 liters and 110 g per km, respectively (56 US mpg and 177.03 g/mile). A new, highly sophisticated temperature management system in the 1.2 TFSI contributes to the low fuel consumption of 5.1 liters per 100 km (46.12 US mpg).

The transmission of power to the wheels underscores the leading role that the A1 Sportback occupies in its segment. The manual transmissions with either a five-speed or six-speed gearbox offer the perfect combination of sportiness and efficiency. The seven-speed S tronic is available for the 1.4 TFSI with 90 kW
(122 hp) and the 1.6 TDI with 66 kW (90 hp); it comes standard with the top TFSI model with 136 kW (185 hp). The dual-clutch transmission shifts smoothly, extremely quickly and with no perceptible interruption to the flow of power. The driver can let the S tronic shift automatically or control it manually.

Chassis

The dynamic chassis rounds out the agile character of the Audi A1 Sportback. The front suspension is a McPherson construction; a torsion beam axle is used in the back. The weight distribution harmonizes perfectly with the front-wheel drive system. The electrohydraulic steering system features a very direct steering ratio of 14.8:1. The setup with the Ambition line is sportily taut; the S line sport suspension provides for even more dynamic handling.

Depending on the trim line, engine and option chosen by the customer, the wheels measure between 15 and 17 inches in diameter. 18-inch wheels are available from quattro GmbH. The front brake discs are internally ventilated. The standard ESP stabilization program with electronic limited slip differential makes the handling even more precise while also enhancing driving safety. It minimizes understeer at the limit by braking the inside front wheel slightly, which also improves traction.

Images : 2012 Audi A1 Sportback