The Audi A1 Sportback S line, together with the base 5-door A1 have been revealed today. Audi says both of them will go on sale at the beginning of 2012. The five-door Audi A1 Sportback hopes to have the same market success as the three-door version of the model, which went on sale last year. Audi's A1 Sportback S line measures 3.95 meters (12.96 ft) in length and is several millimeters taller than the 3-door version. It's also six millimeters (0.24 in) wider than the 3-door version. This means it has more room in the back, which is a bit crammed in the 3-door. The A1 Sportback comes as standard with four seats, but optionally, you can get a fifth one at no extra charge.
One of the major issues with the 3-door A1 is that it doesn't have a whole lot of room for the rear passengers.
The new Sportback 5-door version of the A1 is more spacious, offering one centimeter (0.39 in) more headroom and shoulder room. The Audi A1 Sportback has a 270-liter (9.53 cu ft) boot, which can be increased by folding the rear seats to 920 liters (32.49 cu ft). It also has a low loading lip of just 66 centimeters (25.98 in).
At the exterior, the Audi A1 Sportback S line has a few distinctive features, which include the xenon plus headlights, the LED daytime running lights, and the sculpted tail lights.
The A1 Sportback S line offers the choice of getting the roof arch, the roof and the roof spoiler in a contrasting color. The choice of wheels includes 15-inch steel wheels, 16-inch alloys, 17-inch cast aluminum rims and even 18-inch ones.
In terms of engines, the 5-door A1 Sportback offers the same choices as the 3-door version. They include TFSI petrol and TYDI diesel engine, with outputs ranging from 63 kW (86 hp) to 136 kW (185 hp). Some of those engines are available with Audi's super fast 7-speed S tronic transmission.
The Audi A1 Sportback and S line model will be available with the following engines:
- 1.2 TFSI with 63 kW (86 hp) and a 5.1 liters per 100 km (46.12 US mpg) fuel consumption;
- 1.4-liter TFSI with either 90 kW (122 hp) or 136 kW (185 hp) and 250 Nm (184.39 lb-ft) of torque.
- 1.6 TDI with 66 kW (90 hp) and 77 kW (105 hp), a fuel consumption of 3.8 liters of fuel per 100 km (61.90 US mpg) and a 99 grams / km (159.33 g/mile) CO2 emissions level;
- 2.0 TDI with 105 kW (143 hp) and a 4.1 liters of fuel per 100 km (57.37 US mpg) fuel economy.
Audi will offer the S tronic gearbox as an optional extra with the 122 hp and the 90 hp versions of the A1 Sportback. The 185-hp version of the A1 Sportback features the S tronic transmission as standard.
The Audi A1 Sportback 1.4 TFSI 185 hp is the most powerful version of the model. It can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 7 seconds and has a top speed of 227 km/h (141.05 mph). The 2.0 TDI will go on sale later in the model's life. It will offer a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration time of 8.5 seconds and an average fuel consumption of 4.1 liters per 100 km (57.37 US mpg).
If you equip your 5-door A1 with the S tronic gearbox, you'll also get a hill hold assist system, and paddle shifters on the steering wheel. In case you opt for a manual, you'll have to choose between a 5-spped and a 6-spped transmission.
The Audi A1 Sportback S line is built for use both in the city and on the highway. It comes with a McPherson front suspension, a torsion beam axle in the back and a 14.8:1 steering ratio.
Audi A1 Sportback standard equipment list:
- Manual air conditioning;
- A split rear seat;
- A radio remote-controlled central locking system;
- Power-adjustable side mirrors;
- Power windows;
- The chorus radio;
- A height-adjustable driver's seat;
- Two front airbags, two thorax/pelvic side airbags and two head airbags;
- Belt force limiters;
- The integral Audi headrest system;
- Isofix anchor points for child safety seats.
Audi A1 Sportback Ambition equipment list adds:
- 16-inch alloy wheels;
- High-gloss exhaust tailpipes and fog lights;
- Height-adjustable sport seats with lumbar supports;
- Shift lever, steering wheel and handbrake lever are covered in leather;
- Aluminum-look trim;
- Air vents in high-gloss black;
- On-board computer with efficiency program and gear-change indicator (with manual transmission);
- Special seat upholstery;
- Interior color choices.
Audi A1 Sportback optional equipment list:
- Xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights and LED tail lights;
- High-beam assistant;
- Light and rain sensor;
- Panoramic sunroof;
- Convenience key;
- Alarm system;
- Different parking system versions;
- Cruise control;
- Deluxe automatic air conditioning;
- Tinted windows;
- Heated front seats;
- Easy-to-use leather multifunction sport steering wheel.
Audi A1 Sportback S line options:
- Contrasting roof line;
- LED tail lights;
- Body-color side mirrors;
- And various other aerodynamic and styling parts.
The Audi A1 Sportback and the S line can be equipped with the carmaker's MMI navigation plus system, a DVD drive, voice control, a 6.5-inch monitor and a 465-watt Bose surround sound system with 14 speakers. A cool feature of the A1 Sportback is the WLAN hotspot system, which can be ordered as an optional extra.
The five-door Audi A1 Sportback price list starts at €16,950 EUR for the entry level 1.2 TFSI and goes up to €19,050 EUR for the 1.6 TDI with 66 kW (90 hp).
Watch the Audi A1 Sportback S line in action in the video lower down this page.
Audi A1 Sportback S line video:
