Smallest hatchback from Ingolstadt gains a bigger five-door body and petrol-only engine range.
This is a nice alternative to the Mini…
Yes it is, but beware that Audi’s all-new A1 Sportback only comes in five-door hatchback form; the previous-generation model also had a three-door package to choose from.
The second-gen A1 Sportback, as seen here in official pictures, sports a longer body in a bid to steal attention from punters of the Mini Hatch 5-door.
With an overall length now exceeding 4m, Ingolstadt’s smallest hatchback is 56mm longer than before to improve rear legroom and boot space.
Take note of the funky-looking interior and the digital instrument cluster made standard across the range.
Design-wise, Audi is attempting to inject dynamic appeal by giving the A1 Sportback wider tracks, shorter overhangs and a face looking like the Sport Quattro’s of the 1980s.
And when specced in S Line trim, the A1 Sportback gets larger air vents, twin exhaust pipes and 18-inch wheels.
There’s no diesel option?
That’s right. The A1 Sportback only comes with petrol-turbo engines including 1.0-litre three-cylinder and 1.5- and 2.0-litre four-pot developing between 95hp to 200hp. Dual-clutch automatic transmission is also on offer.
Apart from having competitive power to match Mini’s alternatives, an S1 variant of the Audi is said to be arriving next year with some 250hp.
The John Cooper Works treatment from Mini has 231hp, although it isn’t available in the Hatch 5-door.
Will the Thai Audi agent sell it?
Traditionally, premium compact hatchbacks are difficult to sell in the country due to tight margins and their general unpopularity among Thais.
That’s why the previous A1, as well as the larger A3, is very rare on Thai roads. Mercedes-Benz, for another, has decided to stop selling the A-Class hatchback in Thailand.
However, there might be an outside chance for the A1 Sportback to probably come to Thai showroom albeit in small numbers.
If dressed-up funkily and coming with a reasonable performance, the A1 Sportback could grab some attention from fans of small premium cars with two million baht to spare.
