Audi calls it “the next big Audi”. It is an utterly impressive 2-door hatch created using the same platform that gives rise to the more mundane, and half-as-pricey, Ibiza and Polo.
The Drive
The Audi A1 drives smooth and solid. Though the initial upturn velocity isn’t as seamlessly gained like an A4 or the other siblings, the A1 squeezes out the essence of an Audi Drive to fill a small cup of absolute pleasure. The passing acceleration will not disappoint you if you have a point to prove, while the dynamic suspension and the cross-axle lock that counter steers in corners add up to the precise handling.
The Design
The front façade and the headlamps with their LED signature are unmistakably Audi but the rear lights belong to the Volkswagen family rather than the Audi kin. Interiors are designed to bring alive the (aero) nautical experience, with the Air-conditioning vents that resemble a propeller and the console that reminds you of a cruiser’s hull.
Cabin and controls
Inside an A1, detailing is painstakingly attended to – as expected of a car that you are expected to talk to, laugh with and cry on. The dials look bold and sporty reminiscent of a chronograph dial. Driver’s info pops up conveniently on the screen in front without having to resort to the centre console monitor. I found the deep red and black that marks the lit up dials sporty and intriguing, especially when only the red needles show up in the dark. The stowaway MMI screen is an interesting twist on the road, allowing simple yet elaborate navigation through the controls. The Bose music system is, probably, the most remarkable thing inside the A1 cabin.
Family Drive
The individual is at the centre of the A1 design. Right from the console controls facing the driver with an almost imperceptible tilt, to the stingy legroom or the total absence of any sort of storage or lighting at the rear, everything underlines this inclination. But I should be fair in adding that the A1 doesn’t keep the family out, and comes with even a baby seat provision. However, the ride at the back of an A1 isn’t half as comfortable as in the front. There isn’t much storage room in the cabin, with the door storage too shallow for anything much. But the boot is larger than you would expect in a Supermini and can fit in a couple of airport bags or a stroller!
Audi 1 Vs Mini Cooper
If you overlook the fact that they vie for the same pie, flaunts similar muscle, and sometimes speak for the category’s design in unison, all rational comparisons of the A1 to the Mini is a figment of marketing fancy or that of a very confused Audi or Mini fan. While Mini, even in its most modern avatar, maintains the makings of a classic as defined by Mini itself, the Audi A1 is a much more contemporary subcompact… Read the whole story on http://drivemeonline.com/2011/11/04/audi-a1-one-for-fun-2/
- Driving tip: Take it easy with the A1. Use a light foot – after all it’s a cute and delightful car. It will respond by unleashing pulse-quickening power, though after a brief moment of thought, but if you tend to split open the throttle with a heavy foot, you might be disappointed by the painstakingly delivered drone – reminding you it’s a 1.4 L engine after all.
The Audi A1 drives smooth and solid. Though the initial upturn velocity isn’t as seamlessly gained like an A4 or the other siblings, the A1 squeezes out the essence of an Audi Drive to fill a small cup of absolute pleasure. The passing acceleration will not disappoint you if you have a point to prove, while the dynamic suspension and the cross-axle lock that counter steers in corners add up to the precise handling.
The Design
The front façade and the headlamps with their LED signature are unmistakably Audi but the rear lights belong to the Volkswagen family rather than the Audi kin. Interiors are designed to bring alive the (aero) nautical experience, with the Air-conditioning vents that resemble a propeller and the console that reminds you of a cruiser’s hull.
- The A1 squeezes out the essence of an Audi Drive to fill a small cup of absolute pleasure. Specs: 1.4 TFSI Petrol, Transmission: 7-speed S-tronic, Output: 122 bhp @ 5000 rpm, Torque: 200 Nm @ 1500-4000, Top speed: 203 km, 0-100 kmph: 8.9 sec
Inside an A1, detailing is painstakingly attended to – as expected of a car that you are expected to talk to, laugh with and cry on. The dials look bold and sporty reminiscent of a chronograph dial. Driver’s info pops up conveniently on the screen in front without having to resort to the centre console monitor. I found the deep red and black that marks the lit up dials sporty and intriguing, especially when only the red needles show up in the dark. The stowaway MMI screen is an interesting twist on the road, allowing simple yet elaborate navigation through the controls. The Bose music system is, probably, the most remarkable thing inside the A1 cabin.
Family Drive
The individual is at the centre of the A1 design. Right from the console controls facing the driver with an almost imperceptible tilt, to the stingy legroom or the total absence of any sort of storage or lighting at the rear, everything underlines this inclination. But I should be fair in adding that the A1 doesn’t keep the family out, and comes with even a baby seat provision. However, the ride at the back of an A1 isn’t half as comfortable as in the front. There isn’t much storage room in the cabin, with the door storage too shallow for anything much. But the boot is larger than you would expect in a Supermini and can fit in a couple of airport bags or a stroller!
Audi 1 Vs Mini Cooper
If you overlook the fact that they vie for the same pie, flaunts similar muscle, and sometimes speak for the category’s design in unison, all rational comparisons of the A1 to the Mini is a figment of marketing fancy or that of a very confused Audi or Mini fan. While Mini, even in its most modern avatar, maintains the makings of a classic as defined by Mini itself, the Audi A1 is a much more contemporary subcompact… Read the whole story on http://drivemeonline.com/2011/11/04/audi-a1-one-for-fun-2/
