The three-door body style appears to be gone, though
While Audi is busy teasing the all-new A1, a Belgium-based automotive website has revealed the supermini in all its splendor.
In what looks like a classic case of breaking the news embargo, the outlet called Autotijd has given the world an uncensored look at the second-generation Audi A1, ahead of the official schedule.
The photos reveal a sleek-looking hatchback that no longer offers a three-door body style, much like its platform siblings — the VW Polo, SEAT Ibiza, and Skoda Fabia. The new Audi A1 has more in common with the SEAT Ibiza than the MQB A0 architecture — it will be made alongside the Ibiza and the Arona crossover at SEAT’s Martorell plant in Barcelona. In return, the Brussels factory will build Audi’s first all-electric production SUV, the e-tron.
Back to the new Audi A1, it looks more aggressive than the outgoing model, at least in S-line trim. At the front, the model gets a contemporary rendition of the Singleframe grille painted in black (including the four-ring logo), as well as two air intakes on each corner of the bumper.
At the rear, the A1 also gets an aggressive-looking bumper that features two air vent lookalikes on each side and a pseudo air diffuser in the middle. Adding to the sportier look are the sleeker light units (in a “smoked” look on the S-line model), as well as the black-painted top that gives the car a “floating roof” design. The exterior design may not be a revolution, but at least it’s a significant evolution.
As for the interior, the changes are more significant, with the new A1 gaining a driver-oriented cockpit featuring a fully-digital instrument panel and a beautifully-integrated center screen that uses the new haptic MMI Touch display, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, a new design for the air vents, and colored accents.
[NativeAd]The cars you see in the photos carry the 35 TSI and 40 TSI monikers, which designate turbocharged gasoline engines. A look at Audi’s new model nomenclature reveals that the “35” means an output ranging from 150 to 163 metric horsepower, while the “40” refers to an output from 170 to 204 hp. Most likely, the A1 35 TSI designates the 150-hp 1.5-liter TSI unit, while the A1 40 TSI packs the 2.0-liter TSI engine.
At launch, the new A1 is expected to feature smaller engines shared with the Polo, including the 1.0-liter TSI three-cylinder offered in various states of tune. A hot S1 model may also be in the cards, and that model should feature a 2.0-liter turbo-four with more than 250 hp. A big question mark regards the diesel offerings, as Audi is rumored to ditch oil-burners in some markets.
We’ll learn more about that when Audi officially unveils the new A1 — which may happen during preview event this summer ahead of the public debut scheduled for the 2018 Paris Motor Show.
Story references: Autotijd via Carscoops
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