Audi A1 Sportback revealed

Audi has unveiled a five-door version of its A1 supermini, with styling tweaks and more interior space

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Paul Bond

November 2011

The hotly anticipated Audi A1 Sportback has broken cover at the Tokyo Motor Show - bringing an added dose of practicality to the stylish supermini.

We first brought you spy shots of the five-door model undergoing cold weather testing back in August, but now Audi has released official details of its versatile newcomer.

The extra set of doors, which add 25kg to the overall kerbweight, have been neatly integrated into the A1’s smart exterior design, so to help visually separate the two, the Sportback comes with its own unique colour - Samoa Orange - and the entire roof can be had in a choice of three contrasting shades.

Surprisingly, the Sportback shares the same length and wheelbase measurements as its three-door counterpart - at 3.95 metres and 2.47 metres respectively - but it’s both wider and taller than before, which should help free up extra space for passengers in the back.

What’s more, the Sportback will also be fitted with a five-seat layout as standard, a first for the A1, although the four-seat configuration will still be available as a no cost option, and the 270-litre boot area remains unchanged.

At launch, there will be four turbocharged engines to choose from, all carried over from the three-door, including the efficient 1.6-litre TDI unit that emits just 99g/km, while returning a claimed 74.3mpg.

A performance 2.0-litre diesel option will join the top of the range later in the year, boasting 141bhp and a 0-62mph sprint time of just 8.5 seconds - giving Audi a direct rival to MINI’s Cooper SD hatch. Three trims are available, but all come well equipped, with every Sportback getting alloy wheels and a 6.5-inch colour display as standard.

The Sportback is due to hit showrooms in February, and will command a £560 premium over the equivalent three door. That means prices will start at £13,980 for the 1.2 TFSI SE, rising to a hefty £21,270 for the hottest 182bhp 1.4 TFSI in sporty S line trim.

The A1 range won’t stop growing there though, and Auto Express has learned that Audi is also planning to launch hot S1 version of the three-door in 2013, a cabriolet, and an extreme RS1 too.

In addition, Audi showed off a special edition A1 three-door called the Samurai Blue, which celebrates Audi's sponsorship of the Japan national football team.

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12 Comments

2.0 Diesel sounds interesting

Until you realise you'll be spending over 20K for the priviledge of owning one - then £30 a year to tax and 60mpg doesn't sound so good!

But if VW group is putting a 2.0 Diesel in the A1 (including the 3-door just announced) could this also extend to a new Diesel Fabia VRs?!

A 2.0 diesel Fabia VRs estate would be a great sporting work-horse and every car most people would ever need - I'd sign up for one today!

By gavsmit on 18 November, 2011, 7:03am

This is very interesting. The 3-door is already WhatCar? Car of the Year 2011, and this is supposed to account for 70% total sales. The 2.0 TDI is being introduced in the new special editions (Contrast and Black Edition), and comes straight from the MINI.

And gavsmit has got a good point, although the old Fabia vRS was a diesel only. The new one needed the petrol it has now, because it wouldn't be a proper hot hatch without it, would it?

By JPW2010 on 18 November, 2011, 11:22am

2.0tdi in a Polo

Wouldn't you guys prefer to see that t engine in a car that look as good as the current Polo.

A Polo GTD would sell by the bucket load and look miles better that the Skoda and jelly mould A1 (in my opinion).

By Chirpy on 18 November, 2011, 12:36pm

I like it!

Being a big fan of 3 door cars and a Cooper SD owner, i think its a good looking little car. I would go so far to say thats it as pretty as the 3 door A1 is ugly.

By fastpep1 on 18 November, 2011, 10:23pm

Polo GT, Skoda VRS

I would not prefer that engine in the current Polo, but that's because I don't fit the in current Polo. I own the previous model with ample headroom, but for some reason there are about 4" less in the driver's seat of the latest one. I would have bought such a stonking combination of diesel performance and frugality if it fitted!

On the sister company, the jury's out on the replacement for the Fabia. The current model is based on the car I fit in, the last VW Polo. I wonder if Skoda will consider putting the 141bhp to good use as a final blowout for that car?

By alan_jenney on 19 November, 2011, 2:26am

5-door a looker compared to the 3-door? Oh yes!

I don't think I would have ever been able to say this if it was not for the photos, but the 5-door is a more handsome and more 'Audi-like' silhouette than the existing 3-door. But as a wider and markedly TALLER vehicle, the main thing that will separate the 5-door A1 from the A2 is the technology, as they will be neck-and-neck on styling. The A1 Sportback being the hot-hatch with the forthcoming S1 and the A2 being the eco-warrior in e-tron branded format.

I will reserve final judgement on that until the production version of the new Audi A2 is spied.

By alan_jenney on 19 November, 2011, 2:32am

Follow-up

I said that the A1 would be one part of the Audi market (hot hatch) and the A2 another (eco-warrior).

Although there is a pilot A1 e-tron (/www.audi.co.uk/content/dam/audi/production/RestOfSite/AboutAudi/LatestNews/11_2011/AU009252.jpg) I suspect that this is more about testing the drivetrain in preparation for the A2.

By alan_jenney on 19 November, 2011, 2:37am

Let's see the price first

The new 5-door does have the edge in looks over the original 3-door, especially the version shown here in red with the matt black roof.

Much will depend, however, upon the premium Audi will inevitably charge for the extra doors and how that positions the model's price point against the likes of the MiTo, the MINI and the forthcoming BMW 0-series (or whatever it ends up being called).

By snappyuk on 19 November, 2011, 12:11pm

just wrong

this has got to be one of the uggliest small cars a big amount of money can buy. a top spec diesel youll be talking 20-25k a bet.
a polo gti is 19k! what they gonna call the sport diesel? STD?

By vRSgordon on 24 November, 2011, 10:18am

£20.000+ for a shopping trolley, just because it has a audi badge on it crazy !

i know it's an audi quality materials & build etc, but it's just a glorified skoda fabia.

By BEREAL on 26 November, 2011, 1:37am

A1 S/B

Snappyuk - Sportback is £500 above 3dr price.

BEREAL - To think its a gloridfied skoda, you sir no nothing about cars.

Fantastic car heres whatcar of the year 2012 award

By Shifty2k6 on 12 December, 2011, 1:24pm