Audi has released details of the A1 sportback, a five-door, long-tailed hatch on its smallest platform - and it'll be here in the second quarter of 2012 in three petrol and two diesel variants.
It's the same length as the three-door at 3.95 metres overall on an identical 2.47 metre wheelbase, but is 6mm wider and 6mm taller at 1.75 metres and 1.42 metres respectively, which provides a little extra room for rear-seat passengers, which number two in the standard version, although a three-seater rear bench is a no-cost option.
The front styling is derived directly from the three-door A1, but with a longer, more elegant roofline and sculpted LED tail lights.
The bonnet and rear hatch wrap around the body, the shoulder line encircles the whole car and the flowing roof with its integrated spoiler curves crisply into a steeply sloped C pillar. It's also available with a contrasting roof line in one of three special colours, as well as with a sporty S line exterior package.
The passenger cell is reinforced with very strong hot-shaped steel, to increase rigidity and reduce weight - the base 1.2 TFSI model weighs only 1065kg.
The interior is light and airy, with more glassed area than the three-door and more elegant horizontal lines. The instrument panel slopes gradually into the fascia like an aircraft wing; the centre console is tilted slightly towards the driver, the four round air vents are reminiscent of jet engines and the centre console is shaped like the stern of a classic sailboat.
The boot holds 270 litres, expanding to 920 with the rear seats folded; the loading lip is a comfortably low 660mm. An optional luggage compartment package makes loading even more practical, with usefully divided storage compartments under the loading floor and other amenities.
The A1 Sportback will be available in South Africa with the same choice of three three TFSI petrol and two TDI diesel engines as the three-door: The 1.2 TFSI produces 63kW and uses 5.1 litres per 100km, while the two 1.4-litre TFSI engines are rated at 90 and 136kW respectively (250Nm, 0-100 in seven seconds and 227km/h flat out) while the 1.6 TDI comes in 66 and 77kW flavours, each averaging 3.8 litres per 100km.
A seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission is an option on the 90kW 1.4 TFSI and 1.6 TDI, and standard on the 136kW 1.4.
The Attraction trim line includes 15” steel rims, while the Ambition comes with 16” alloys (17-inchers on 136kW 1.4-litre models) Special seven-spoked 17” alloy rims with 215/40 radials, only available on the Sportback, are an option, as are 18” alloys from quattro GmbH.
Standard kit on the A1 Sportback Attraction includes aircon, a split rear seat, remote central locking, power mirrors and windows, radio/CD player, height-adjustable driver's seat, two front, two side and two head airbags.
The Ambition trim spec is distinguished by 16” alloys, high-gloss tailpipes and foglights. The sport seats include lumbar supports, and the passenger seat is also height-adjustable. The gear lever, steering wheel and handbrake lever are covered in leather, the air vents are glossy black, the trim aluminium.
A driver information system with efficiency programme and gear-change indicator (on manual models) is standard.
A modular range of infotainment systems can be ordered, starting with a concert radio and SD card reader, which serves as the base for the connectivity package, which includes a music interface, a Bluetooth telephone preparation kit and a navigation preparation kit.
The next step up is the navigation package, in which the navigation feature is already enabled.
At the top of the line is MMI navigation plus with a large hard disk, the MMI operating principle, a DVD drive and powerful voice control. The 165mm monitor, which folds out from the instrument panel, displays three-dimensional graphics in high resolution.
The Bluetooth online car phone brings Audi connect online services to the A1 Sportback, including navigation with images from Google Earth and Google Street View, specially prepared news, weather and travel information, web radio and voice-controlled POI search - as well as a wi-fi router.