FIRST PHOTOS Audi A1 Metroproject Quattro - Interior & Exterior

[driveforward]

Well folks, the time is upon us... Taken from: http://www.worldcarfans.com/9071018.009/first-photos-audi-a1-concept

Due in 2009, engines ranging from 80bhp 1.2's to 2.0 power plants.

http://images.worldcarfans.com/articles/2007/10/18/9071018.009/9071018.009.1M.jpg


http://images.worldcarfans.com/articles/2007/10/18/9071018.009/9071018.009.Mini16L.jpg


http://images.worldcarfans.com/articles/2007/10/18/9071018.009/9071018.009.Mini10L.jpg


Read all about it here: http://www.worldcarfans.com/9071018.009/first-photos-audi-a1-concept

[Darren C]

Nice find Ian.. can't say that I am sold or will be wanting to part-ex my A2 for one though.

In picture one it looks like a mini A3... in keeping with the Audi range, but not as unique or radical as the A2; but then what else would you expect...

Darren

[Skipton01]

Said it before, say it again: AWFUL!

Look how cramped it looks internally - no elbow room at all.

S'pose it'll sell though, as long as the price is competitive, as there's no styling cues to get excited about.

Cheers,

Mike

[Johann]

Yes nothing exciting... Interesting... What I like is that it can go for 100miles on the battery alone. Anyone know how far a Toyota Prius can go? THREE miles! Pathetic.

And as to the rear lights: the Q7 has had to double up the lights in the bumper to make the thing road legal for when the boot is open. So how Audi will get around that with this design I'm not sure. And doubling of lights on such a small car will just look terrible in my view.

I like the interior and can only hope the 5 door will be on a longer wheelbase...

[ULP]

U-G-L-Y You 'aint got no aliby

you're ugly; yeah, your ugly

Crikey, it even makes the new Nissan Skyline appear to be a bit of a looker (that's an oxymoron in case anyone was wondering).

That'll grow on me with all the appeal of genital warts. It looks like a Dyson that's been mating with a wart-hog that hit every branch when falling from the ugly tree.

What is the appeal of making every car look like Ricky Hatton on a bad day?

If the A2 goes, I won't be getting another Audi that's for sure.

[driveforward]

If the A2 goes, I won't be getting another Audi that's for sure.

If you sell your A2 I guarantee it'll be a case of "you don't know what you've got till it's gone". Will give you a call in the next week or so mate - need to sort a few things out :) (and chew your ear off about this predicament just as Darren does..)

[humps]

Crikey, it even makes the new Nissan Skyline appear to be a bit of a looker (that's an oxymoron in case anyone was wondering).

indeed. Skyline has never been a looker and the new one certainly isn't. But who cares when it can lap the 'ring in around 7, 35 and tops 190mph! BTW the new car is acutally called Nissan GTR. New platform and everything, not R35 nor based on the 4 door skylines like previous generations.

But the A1, my oh my. It really is a Mini competitor, look at how small the boot is going to be let alone rear passengers! I'm not sold. And as everyone knows, Audi only needs to recreate the A2 with all up-to-date gears, engine, keep all the existing best bits (good space, smart look, clever design ...etc) and it will sell even in the US! See Honda has started selling the Jazz (Fit) in US and the Prius is quite a common site on US motorways. Which also begs the question, why do you need to carry an extra battery+electric motor when most of the time it is the 4 pot running on the freeways? A slightly wider A2 to fit 3 at the back with the best 1.4/1.6 petrol (diesel is still a no-no outside Europe) VAG can offer should make it very popular in the world market, given it is fashinable to drive a fuel efficient car! The A1 in all the previous concept forms can only exist as an expensive small fun car. But then I would probably buy the new Fiat 500 instead.

[driveforward]

But the A1, my oh my. It really is a Mini competitor, look at how small the boot is going to be let alone rear passengers! I'm not sold. And as everyone knows, Audi only needs to recreate the A2 with all up-to-date gears, engine, keep all the existing best bits (good space, smart look, clever design ...etc) and it will sell even in the US! See Honda has started selling the Jazz (Fit) in US and the Prius is quite a common site on US motorways. Which also begs the question, why do you need to carry an extra battery+electric motor when most of the time it is the 4 pot running on the freeways?

It does indeed look very small, although the production version will undoubtedly gain a normal rear bench seat and loose the hybrid drive (which will only be a concept gimmick). The problem with the A2 was the high production costs, however, given the A1 looks VERY small, and PRIUS prices are around the same mark as A2 prices were, maybe there will be some future scope for a reintroduction of the A2 concept.

[humps]

Everything hinges on if the car will sell in the US. Audi couldn't see A2 selling in US (neither did they see A3 selling back then) but now they realise Mini sells and they want a share of it. Being a hybrid will boost sales in US too. Prius drivers can ride in the car pool lane even with one person in car and that factor alone sold many Priuses (and all the holywood stars + al gore bought one). I can see Audi making a desirable, good looking luxury small hybrid to the US.

But hybrid is simply a pollution shifting technology; why carry 2 engines + battery + fuel tank when all you need is a lightweight frame and an efficient engine with a suitably tall motorway gear?

It is certainly interesting to see what Audi plans to offer in the A1.

[chucknaldo]

More info. Kinda growing on me... :confused:

http://cars.uk.msn.com/news/car_news_article.aspx?cp-documentid=6451165

[manhattan$]

I like it.

Dont think of it as a direct replacement for the A2 guys. The A2 was too ahead of its time when released also there was not alot of interest in economical motors then as there is today.

Im not knocking the A2, its a fantastic car i love it! :D But i do wish for a more powerful car with low running costs which this could possibly be the answer to?
I do alot of short trips so the battery power would be cool.


I will be watching the Tokyo motor show with interest next week! You never know i may just be placing an order next week

[Johann]

And remember these days a platform can easily be adapted to be bigger for the 5 door version. So the proper A2 replacement will probably have sufficient space. But I guess it will be called the A1 Sportback and not A2. But that I guess is a good thing.

The main reason the Prius sells so well is that it is a standalone shape that says to everyone I drive a hybrid. Hardly anyone buys Honda Civic hybrids et al as people can't see that you are a greenie... But sadly these people mostly only want to be seen to be green and don't bother reading the true facts that cradle to grave a Prius is VERY ungreen (shipping from Japan, battery recycling after 5 years and the CO2 cost of all those engineers working on developing the technology). Hence on a perverse level a steel bodied A2 successor is greener than an aluminium one as the technology in steel and the R&D time needed to develop it is far less than special aluminium technology... (Do a google on a recent study about what is the greenest car in the US on sale today cradle to grave. Surprise: it's a Jeep Wrangler 4x4 due to the minimal shipping and old technology used...)

If they do launch an A1 five door that can do 100miles on the batteries alone I will definitely consider one. But only if it has a glass roof that can open! hehehe

[ecoangel]

Actually Al2 is far better than steel when it comes to recycling - that's why Ally cans are reused so often.

Also much lighter bodywork is what sets the A2 apart from competitors when it comes to smaller engines and efficiency.

Just Audi's poor marketing and over pricing initially stuffed them.

Prius is built at a loss but used as an amazing marketing tool for Toymota.

Prius came 5th out of 6 eco cars in auto express recently. Beaten by Citroen C1 diesel, MINI One (stop start) diesel, Fiat Panda multijet and of course the new Polo Blue motion.

Now if A2 1.2 TDI were still produced it would win easily.

[Paddys]

This looks similar to above tho not the same.....

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Green-Cars/Search-Results/Green-First-Pictures/Audi-Metroproject-unveil/?&R=EPI-4119

[Bumper_Car]

I've been waiting some time to see this new baby, but gotta say I'm very disappointed by it. I was hoping for better fuel eco (1.2ltr diesel hybrid would have been interesting), more radical features (direct integration with mobile phone /SIM) - not sure I'd enjoy carrying an additional mobile phone sized device (as car keys) since my present phone does all the communicating/mp3 and video playing I need. Also a cheaper competitive price would have been welcomed.

Personally think the styling a bit shag nasty too - there’s nothing new or revolutionary about its look. Bar the front grill; It would blend into the crowd very well. I expect it will be a big hit with TT wannbe w@nkers.

Cant help but wonder - How long before scratches on the glass window of that back-to-the-future style 'flux capacitor' thingy in the boot; starts to make it look like a piece of faded, weathered Perspex more akin to being used as a window in a shed.

On a positive note,,, mmm,let me see, hmmmm, r yes, ,, nice shade of red.

My first post as a new member, Hello