audi a1 concept

Audi's upcoming Mini-fighter, the A1, was originally shown as the Metroproject Quattro concept at last year's Tokyo auto show, but now visitors to Paris are getting a glimpse of something closer to the production model in the new 2010 A1 Sportback. At approximately 175-in. long, 68.9-in. wide, and 55.1-in high, the five-door A1 is more than a foot shorter than Audi's current A3, but the compact's short overhangs and 96.8-in. wheelbase give it a planted stance. In addition a high beltline, sloping roof, and prominent character lines running down each side give the car a distinctive look, which is accentuated by flared fenders evoking the current RS6 super-sedan and frameless doors with a glass-covered B-pillar.
Like the original Metroproject Quattro, Audi's A1 Sportback concept features a hybrid powertrain under the hood, consisting of a 1.4L TFSI turbo four-cylinder good for 150 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque married to a 27-hp electric motor sporting an additional 111 lb-ft of twisting ability. In most cases both engine and electric motor operate simultaneously to boost performance, but the A1 can also run entirely on electric power for up to 62 miles, and it's possible to recharge the lithium-ion battery pack by plugging it in at night. The hybrid system is credited with reducing consumption by 30 percent, to over 60 mpg (European test cycles), while accelerating to 62 mph in just 7.9 seconds. Audi has also equipped the A1 with an S tronic dual-clutch gearbox, 18-in. wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, and its new "drive select" system, which allows drivers to adjust the car's chassis, shift points, and throttle response to two different settings. The hybrid is not envisioned for production at this point.
Other cool design touches that may not make the cut: sequentially illuminating front turn signal indicators that encircle the headlamp clusters illuminating from inboard to outboard using LEDs in light pipes that blur the light so you don't see the points of LED light. Ultra-light seats with mesh inserts save 9 pounds per seat. Next-generation phones can be docked with the car, and can hail the car from afar and sense whether it's locked, windows are up, etc. Engaging the sport drive mode causes the shifter to rise out of the front center console for manual shifting, and in the rear console is a removable "boombox" that accepts iPods or other MP3 players. One flourish that'll never make the final cut: The rear hatch opens normally, or either half of the glass can be opened independently of the other.The A1 will begin rolling off its Belgian assembly line in 2009, but whether or not it will challenge Mini for dominance of the American premium compact market has yet to be determined