Audi A1 premium compact car unveiled – Geneva debut on schedule!

Audi A1 premium compact car unveiled – Geneva debut on schedule!

After months of releasing teaser by teaser, Audi has finally unveiled the production Audi A1 in full on the internet. For those who want to see the car in real space, it’ll be shown to public in the metal for the first time at the Geneva show at the end of this month. A baseline price has been revealed – about 16,000 Euros will be the minimum price you’ll have to fork out for this compact.

Audi claims the A1 is the first in the premium compact segment – and that’s some pretty strong words to say. Is he saying that Mercedes-Benz’s smart and BMW’s MINI brands are not premium enough? MINIs definitely have premium pricetags here in Malaysia, or is he saying that the A1 has far superior materials compared to the MINI? We’ll only find out if we get to see an actual production car.

Audi A1 premium compact car unveiled – Geneva debut on schedule!

According to the press release, customers can customize various features to their own personal tastes. Among the selections that an owner can make include colored air nozzles, LED interior lights, different colours for the roof arch and various colours for the seat covers. Audi also says the A1 offers the best audio system options in its segment – you are able to specify stuff like MMI navigation plus and even a 465 watt Bose surround sound system.

The A1 will debut with two petrol engines and two diesel engines. The petrol engines make either 86 horses and 122 horses, so they aren’t exactly going to be any threat to the Cooper S or JCW models from BMW, but that could be reserved for a model like an “S1” or an “RS1”? The diesels are both 1.6 litre TDIs in different states of tune – 90hp and 106hp. The car comes standard with a manual but can optionally be equipped with a 7-speed Audi S-Tronic (DSG) dual clutch transmission.

Look after the jump for a full 23 page press release chock full of details as well as high res photos and a video. The video shows a German bloke explaining the design features of the A1.

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Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • Not for me though…

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  • ada chance kalo cheaper than MINI in malaysia…..

    not much customer appreciate 0000 badge here……

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  • I think Alfa Mito is way better in terms of power handling and price for sure even the basic spec of Alfa looks bettter

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  • raybrig on Feb 11, 2010 at 2:35 am

    macam keta savvy aku je..

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  • Squawk on Feb 11, 2010 at 3:11 am

    1.2l TFSI…. got chance to enjoy petrol subsidy.

    Paul, been hearing politicians saying subsidy will be based on engine size again. So what's the story?

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  • jaybon on Feb 11, 2010 at 3:43 am

    blakang mcm tiru savvy je, tp aku rase savvy lg lawa, bole la tarok enjin kete ni dalam savvy nti

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  • mitlanevo on Feb 11, 2010 at 3:50 am

    not nice…..

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  • klaka seram on Feb 11, 2010 at 3:50 am

    being an Audi, do expect the price will be premium. Better get mito, cheaper

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  • kobealex on Feb 11, 2010 at 3:52 am

    tis is interesting…

    apart from the back… somehow the car shape reminds me of the Saga wit a blackout front nose…

    more or less, it looks like a modern n updated Saga :P

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • kete_hitam on Feb 11, 2010 at 4:01 am

    lancer gt look a like

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  • paparazi (Member) on Feb 11, 2010 at 4:44 am

    dam cute baby Audi, below RM150K or above?

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  • mr_3m on Feb 11, 2010 at 4:48 am

    mcm savvy???? hahahahaha…. pity audi… million of man hours spent, and can only come up with something that is 'mcm savvy'!!!

    anyway, even if it is savvy size or mcm savvy… in Malaysia if it ever comes, it will be priced around RM170-220k (for top spec with 1.4TFSI & S-Tronic dualclutch)…. look at the Mini pricing here, surely Audi will price the A1 slightly cheaper but not by much… bear in mind also the old VW Polo GTI was priced previously around RM138k…. the new Polo (which the Audi shares some of its components & platform) if launched, will not be far off from RM140-150k…

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  • Mazda 3 MPS on Feb 11, 2010 at 5:07 am

    very uncool

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  • Russell on Feb 11, 2010 at 5:15 am

    Proton, maybe it is time for you guys to facelift the Sawy.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • toycar car on Feb 11, 2010 at 5:21 am

    a new breed but design is a bit overdone.. i like golf gti better!

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  • staff on Feb 11, 2010 at 5:22 am

    @ Russell,

    just wait for the Savvy FL… but, not in Malaysia

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  • Proton, maybe it is time for you guys to facelift the Sawy.

    =========================

    very unlikely coz Proton shd hv stop dealing with Renault by now.

    Savvy was built based on Renault platform….

    Unless, Renault is willing to share its latest Clio to Proton…..if so, please have d Clio RS version…..

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  • Squawk on Feb 11, 2010 at 5:35 am

    Now Savvy owners can mod their cars to look like A1s.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • kuku stim on Feb 11, 2010 at 6:37 am

    Best comment of all

    Raybrig "macam keta savvy aku je.."

    Hahahaha!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • staff on Feb 11, 2010 at 6:40 am

    @a.18…

    I nvr find any info mentioning that savvy was built based on Renault model… The engine… yes, we all know from renault,,, but on the chassis? i doubt that…

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  • Mazda 3 MPS on Feb 11, 2010 at 7:08 am

    but i like it

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  • shokubeni on Feb 11, 2010 at 7:14 am

    lampu depan tu dah tak berapa cantek..overdone….dah abis idea kot audi ni

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  • Gajen on Feb 11, 2010 at 7:56 am

    lousy design…but i love the simple interior…audi's 1st attempt to make round air cons,looks nice

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  • Gajen on Feb 11, 2010 at 7:57 am

    i just remembered it isnt their 1st attempt for round air cons…old a4 has it lol…but this interior looks good

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  • Mazda 3 MPS on Feb 11, 2010 at 8:47 am

    this is one of the cars that doesn;t really catch u in the beginning. it doesn;t shout like a citroen DS3….but after slowly observing it, it's a pretty nice car, not in a cool way, but one which will u never get bored of and feel good in it. give us yellow interiors….the interior should be brighter.

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  • Arn-really-is-some-s on Feb 11, 2010 at 10:48 am

    first look. not that cool. but still Audi family look..

    Mazda 3 MPS brother is right, the DS3 looks more delicious!! any yet Mini cooper still the interesting car in the small compact car catogory~

    can we expect something that close to VW golf GTI and yet pricing is lower? more public hot hatch on the road?

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  • Korean on Feb 11, 2010 at 7:17 pm

    The round things at the panel looks like …..nipple.

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  • Hmmm….

    The front are very similar to Mitsu GT/EVO…am i right??

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  • Looks like mini Lancer GT due to the distinctive front grill, front headlamps and rear lamps..

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  • sy8_nemesis on Feb 11, 2010 at 11:13 pm

    its like mini mitsu GT……..!!!!!!

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  • Mysticmind on Feb 12, 2010 at 2:12 am

    ya.. agree.. the 'supposed to be aircond vents' are look like breast and nipple.

    Ahahaha..

    The designer should be horny that time. lol!

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  • niuhje on Feb 12, 2010 at 2:13 am

    ok lah… get the A1 as everyday car n d XC60 for the long-haul drive…bila lah nak menang Magnum nye jackpot nie???

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  • Mazda 3 MPS on Feb 12, 2010 at 3:02 am

    shark nose

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  • Leonardo on Feb 12, 2010 at 5:02 pm

    Well proportioned and compact styling. The pricing would put this squarley in Mini's territory, in europe anyway.

    Looks like Saga SE?

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  • Mazda 3 MPS on Feb 12, 2010 at 10:46 pm

    Leonardo said,

    February 12, 2010 @ 9:02 am

    Well proportioned and compact styling. The pricing would put this squarley in Mini’s territory, in europe anyway.

    Looks like Saga SE?

    —————————–

    saga se? wtf….go find an optician

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