Kyle Fortune 2 Oct 2008Audi's A1 Sportback Concept develops the A1 project quattro theme further in Paris. A five-door version of the concept first revealed in Tokyo last year, the A1 Sportback concept is a hybrid vehicle that blends enjoyable performance with an environmentally responsible drivetrain.
What's all the fuss about?
Every single manufacturer in Paris is talking about downsizing and Audi is no different. The A1 represents a logical step for the German firm, offering customers all the attributes that they expect in a premium badged Audi, but in a smaller, more efficient package. Mating a 150bhp 1.4-litre TFSI petrol engine to an electric motor, the A1 Sportback concept either boosts its performance out of town by combining the two drivetrains, or drives on the electric motor alone to completely remove emissions in and around the city. In electric-only mode the A1 Sportback has a range of around 30 miles.
Any new technology?
The A1 Sportback's hybrid drivetrain gives it the potential to reach 62mph in just 7.9 seconds, yet it produces a CO2 figure of just 92g/km. Fuel consumption of around 72.4mpg would also be possible thanks to the petrol-electric hybrid transmission. Neat concept touches include LED lights all round, a split rear tailgate and a pop-up gearstick which rises when the driver wishes to take control of gearshifts - it works in a sequential fore and aft fashion. The infotainment centre is a key interior technology, the A1 Sportback's system able to communicate with mobile technology and integrate a telephone's communication, navigation, Internet and music functions over a wireless network - the A1 learning when, what and where its driver likes to listen to particular tracks and creating playlists for playback.
Will it ever see the light of day?
Still very much a concept car, the word is that an A1 will join Audi's product range, but not until around 2012.
What's all the fuss about?
Every single manufacturer in Paris is talking about downsizing and Audi is no different. The A1 represents a logical step for the German firm, offering customers all the attributes that they expect in a premium badged Audi, but in a smaller, more efficient package. Mating a 150bhp 1.4-litre TFSI petrol engine to an electric motor, the A1 Sportback concept either boosts its performance out of town by combining the two drivetrains, or drives on the electric motor alone to completely remove emissions in and around the city. In electric-only mode the A1 Sportback has a range of around 30 miles.
Any new technology?
The A1 Sportback's hybrid drivetrain gives it the potential to reach 62mph in just 7.9 seconds, yet it produces a CO2 figure of just 92g/km. Fuel consumption of around 72.4mpg would also be possible thanks to the petrol-electric hybrid transmission. Neat concept touches include LED lights all round, a split rear tailgate and a pop-up gearstick which rises when the driver wishes to take control of gearshifts - it works in a sequential fore and aft fashion. The infotainment centre is a key interior technology, the A1 Sportback's system able to communicate with mobile technology and integrate a telephone's communication, navigation, Internet and music functions over a wireless network - the A1 learning when, what and where its driver likes to listen to particular tracks and creating playlists for playback.
Will it ever see the light of day?
Still very much a concept car, the word is that an A1 will join Audi's product range, but not until around 2012.