New three-cylinder petrol engine joins updated A1 range polished by styling revisions, equipment upgrades and efficiency gains
- New three-cylinder addition to acclaimed A1 and A1 Sportback ranges takes entry price of Audi ownership to £14,315 OTR
- Available to order now in conjunction with SE or Sport specification – first UK deliveries in summer 2015
- A1 1.0 TFSI five-speed manual – 0-62mph in 10.9 seconds, top speed 116mph, combined MPG 67.3, CO2 97g/km
- A1 and A1 Sportback ranges recently enhanced by styling revisions inside and out, new or improved engines, more equipment and improved option packs
Weighing up the pros and cons of petrol and diesel power becomes a little harder for Audi A1 customers from today as a new super-frugal, 97g/km TFSI version of the three or five-door subcompact becomes available in the UK. Equipped with a characterful new three-cylinder engine – the first petrol unit with this configuration ever to be installed in an Audi model – the latest A1 variant promises to bring 67mpg-plus economy, peppy performance and the premium hallmarks that distinguish every Audi within even easier reach with an OTR price starting from £14,315.
The 95PS turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine effectively replaces the 89PS 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine available in the A1 since launch. It can call on a healthy 160Nm of torque to propel the A1 1.0 TFSI with standard five-speed manual gearbox to 62mph from rest in 10.9 seconds, regardless of whether it is powering the three-door or five-door Sportback body style. A seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission is also available, and with this installed the acceleration time is also unchanged in both versions. Top speed is 116mph in every case.
Equally importantly, the new engine can return up to 67.3mpg in the A1 when linked to the standard manual gearbox, or 64.2mpg in conjunction with the S tronic transmission, equating to CO2 figures of 97g/km and 102g/km respectively. Again, these figures apply regardless of the body style chosen.
For comparison, the 1.6-litre TDI which retains its position as the most frugal option in the updated range now benefits from an economy boost from 74.3mpg to 80.7mpg according to the combined cycle test, and a CO2 reduction from 99g/km to 92g/km in both body styles.
SE or Sport specification options
The new three-cylinder petrol engine is available in conjunction with either SE or Sport specification, both options including alloy wheels, remote central locking, air conditioning, electric front windows and mirrors and a six-speaker single CD audio system with auxiliary iPod connection linked to a 6.5-inch retractable display. A secondary collision brake assist system, which can initiate automatic braking to reduce the risks of skidding and additional collisions during an accident, also now forms part of the standard equipment list.
Key upgrades which are new to the latest 2015 Sport specification include the Audi Music Interface and preparation for SD card-based navigation. They join existing features such as larger 16-inch wheels, sports suspension, sports seats, Bluetooth mobile phone preparation and a Driver’s Information System.
The firmer sports suspension configuration which is a standard feature of Sport models has been revised to increase its absorbency, but customers can now choose to replace it at no extra cost with the more supple set-up of the SE versions.
As always with the A1 and A1 Sportback, prospective owners of the new 1.0 TFSI version will be able to choose from a wealth of options to personalise their car and enhance it with features more commonly associated with models from the classes above.
The roof line in three-door models and the entire roof section in Sportback versions can be painted in a range of contrasting colours, creating an imposing and individual look that can be accentuated further by features such as privacy glass and a high gloss black styling package taking in the grille and side air inlets.
Distinctive accents can also be added in the high quality cabin, where elements such as the rear view mirror surround, air vent sleeves, door pulls and the edges of the centre console can be finished in vibrant colours including Misano red, Macao yellow and Glacier white.
Owners looking to maximise the A1’s big car condensed appeal also have a wide selection of cost effective bundled option packages to choose from which add everything from an open sky panoramic sunroof, acoustic parking control and LED interior lighting to satellite navigation, Audi Phone Box mobile connectivity and in-car internet services via Audi connect.
Article source: www.audi.co.uk