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A Fresh look at a Topseller

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Can Small Cars Get any Better?

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First Drives of the 2015 Audi A1 and A1 Sportback from the International Launch

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The new Audi A1 has just been released, available to order now, with first deliveries Q1, 2015.
The A1 was launched in 2010 with the Sportback following in 2012.

 

At the International launch we had the opportunity to drive a selection of the new models with the new engine line-up. Immediately the quality of the car shone through, clearly a new benchmark has been set in this premium small car segment.

The A1 is targeted at the new trendsetting young buyer and often first time Audi driver. The sports, sharp and masculine lines of the new car are enhanced further with the amazing looking Xenon Plus headlights and striking LED rear lights.

With a multitude of personalisation accessories up to 1 million options are available with 17 wheel styles and even seven choices of interior vents, this car has customisation and personalisation covered.

Inside the car it offers that big car feeling, combined with that Audi appeal. Of all the variants I drove the vehicle now includes the first and most economic and clean Audi diesel engine ever the 1.6 L 92g/km CO2 with up to 80.7mpg. The new 1.0 TFSI petrol engine is the first Audi three cylinder engine emitting just 99G/CO2.

This is the first car in the premium compact segment to offer Audi Drive select, with a choice of sport, eco-and auto modes. For the sports and leisure minded Audi offer a range of active kit to enhance your car.

On the road driving the car is as expected, fun with a sporty feel, it turns in well with the addition of DSC and wheel selective torque vectoring. The handling is precise and surefooted. The 1.6 TDI I drove outside of Monaco on some exceptionally testing roads.

The only downside for me was the rather small rearview mirror and the lack of roof rails meant on opening the side windows, wet shoulders were the thing. Sometimes to be cool we have to suffer.

Overall once again Audi have another success on their hands, luxury as standard, great value and with the lowest appreciation in its class it is a worthy successor to the old A1.

This is also the first A1 to feature a new 7-speed Stronic transmission across all variants. The automatic in a lot of ways  was more fun to drive than the five speed manual 1.6 I tested. Optional adjustable dampers are available to assist with more sporty handling. The Audi connect system is just another added bonus, offering its own Wi-Fi hotspot and Internet device connectivity from within the car. This can be combined with the Bose surround sound system and MMI satnav, this is one of the best solutions and easy to use systems available. Even more so in the car of the size.

With 500,000 sales of the last car I think will be seeing a lot more of this one.

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Watch the short video of the car in action

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