Audi goes three-pot
New 1.0 TFSI engine likely to be new base engine in Australia as Audi facelifts its smallest modelAudi has revealed a mild midlife makeover for its A1 line-up, headlined by the German brand's first three-cylinder engines, which could be sold in Australia.
The revised 2015 versions Audi's smallest model are distinguished by slightly slimmer and more angular headlights, a sharper grille, fresh tail-light graphics, new paint colours and new bumpers that make the pint-size hatchback 20mm longer than before, at 3980mm.
Accompanied by a new Wi-Fi hotspot function and the latest MMI infotainment control system, the cosmetic changes bring the mainstream A1 range into line with the new S1 quattro released here in September.
But the biggest change is under the bonnet, where the A1 scores the Volkswagen group's latest three-cylinder turbo-petrol and diesel engines, which we hope to test at the global launch in Monaco next month.
A 1.0-litre petrol triple with 71kW will consume just 4.3L/100km in the base model (1.0 TFSI), while a new 66kW turbo-diesel three-pot (in the 1.4 TDI ultra) will consume a hybrid-like 3.4L/100km — the equivalent of 89g/km of CO2 – in Europe.
Further up the range remains the four-cylinder 1.4-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol engine, now with two stages of tune — 92kW (up from 90kW) and 110kW, the latter featuring fuel-saving cylinder deactivation.
There is also an 85kW 1.6-litre diesel and a 141kW 1.8-litre petrol engine for the A1, while the S1 continues with a 170kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, six-speed manual, all-wheel drive and claimed 0-100km/h acceleration in 5.9 seconds.
Apart from the S1, the A1's four petrol and two diesel engines will be available with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, while a new electric power steering system is now standard throughout the A1 range.
Most significantly, Audi says all engines – including the new three-cylinder turbo engines – are under consideration in Australia, where the A1 three-door first arrived in December 2010, followed by the five-door A1 Sportback in June 2012.
Indeed, the more powerful new turbo-petrol triple is likely to replace the 63kW/160Nm 1.2-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder in Australia's entry-level A1, which currently opens the local range at $26,500.
Audi says it has sold more than 500,000 A1s since its global release in 2010.
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