New Audi A1 Sportback now on sale in Australia

The second-generation Audi A1 Sportback is now available in Australia, nearly a year after its European launch and almost a decade since the German luxury brand’s original light hatch and cheapest passenger car arrived Down Under.

The three-variant, five-door-only 2019 Audi A1 line-up is priced from $32,350 plus on road costs --about $3000 higher than before and also more than its only direct competitor, the MINI five-door (from $31,500).

There’s no performance variant to speak of, but Audi believes more aggressive design and significant safety, infotainment and technology updates will attract more Australian males to an entry-level model that was previously purchased mostly by females.

“The all-new Audi A1 Sportback will be a disruptor in the premium compact segment,” said Audi Australia director of product planning and pricing, Shawn Ticehurst.

“We think the design of the car has a masculinity about it that will broaden its appeal to men. In the past, the old car had about 70 per cent female buyers. We’d like to get that closer to 50/50.”

Opening the all-turbo/auto, petrol-only Audi A1 line-up at under $33K is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder 30 TFSI that develops 85kW and 200Nm, mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Priced at $35,290 plus ORCs, middle of the pack is the 110kW/250Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder 35 TFSI with cylinder on demand tech, which Audi expects to be the volume-seller and account for two thirds of A1 sales in Australia.

The Audi A1 35 TFSI comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission,and the top-spec 147kW/320Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder 40 TFSI drives through a six-speed DSG for $46,450 plus ORCs.

The three new engines bring improved performance over the outgoing A1 and in the case of the 35 TFSI and 40 TFSI larger capacity engines, too (previous 1.4- and 1.8-litre).

Seconds have been shaved off the 0-100kmh claims to the tune of 9.4sec in the 30 TFSI, 7.7sec for the 35 TFSI and 6.5sec in the 40 TFSI.

The Audi A1 sips 95 RON fuel and the manufacturer’s claimed combined fuel consumption suggests frugal motoring at 5.4L/100km (30 TFSI), 5.8L/100km (35 TFSI) and 6.4L/100km (40 TFSI).

Ticehurst said there are no plans for a hotter S1 variant because there are currently no plans to do a quattro all-wheel drive version of this platform.

“What we aimed to do was make sure that the 40 TFSI model is at least as sporty as it could be in its current format and especially the visual appeal of it,” he said.

“So that’s what we’ve done to give that car a boost. And we want that to be ideally about a quarter of sales which will be substantially more than its predecessor did,” said Ticehurst.

The front-wheel drive Audi A1 rides on a 94mm-longer wheelbase (2560mm), unchanged width (1740mm) and measures 56mm longer overall (4029mm). Compared to the outgoing A1, it’s a noticeable shift upwards in dimensions – both in visual and practical terms.

Outside, the new A1 simply looks like a more substantial vehicle while, inside, it translates as additional head (7mm), shoulder (36mm) and elbow (29mm) room -- dimensions that Audi believe will broaden the appeal of the prestige light car.

The stretched A1 boasts a boot that is 65 litres larger than its predecessor’s to deliver what Audi say is a class-leading 335-1090 litres of capacity.

Audi Australia is also banking on the A1 to play a role in generating interest in its growing suite of entry-level model variants.

“So if a customer comes in on an A1 but they drive out in a Q2 Black Edition or an A3 S Line edition we’re good with that. We want to make sure there’s a broad appeal at that price point,” said Ticehurst.

Cloth upholstery and a multi-function leather steering wheel, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio, cruise control with speed-limiter, autonomous emergency braking (with pedestrian and cyclist detection), lane departure warning with lane keep assist, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera are standard across the A1 range.

The Audi A1 30 TFSI starts the ball rolling with 16-inch alloy wheels, an 8.8-inch touch-screen, 10.25-inch instrument cluster and six-speaker sound system.

A style pack ($2990) can be optioned to add LED headlights and tail-lights, folding exterior mirrors, interior lighting package and larger 17-inch alloys.

The Audi A1 35 TFSI moves to 17-inch alloys, keyless entry and push-button start, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, interior lighting package, front centre console armrest and wireless phone charging.

The style pack is also available to the 35 TFSI, as well as a $3200 Technik pack that brings a 10.1-inch touch-screen, virtual cockpit instrument cluster, Audi connect plus, wireless Apple CarPlay, eight-speaker sound and luggage compartment package.

Audi predicts a 50-75 per cent uptake on the Style package across the 30 TFSI and 35 TFSI models.

The 40 TFSI S Line lifts in all areas, jumping to 18-inch alloys with red brake callipers, adaptive dampers, drive mode select, LED headlights and tail-lights, heated and folding exterior mirrors, 10.1-inch touch-screen, virtual cockpit, Audi connect plus and wireless Apple CarPlay.

Finessed interior details include sports front seats, paddle shifters and dual-zone climate control.

Packages unique to the 40 TFSI include the Premium Plus pack ($2990) that adds adaptive cruise control, park assist, Bang & Olufsen 3D audio, leatherette upholstery, heated front seats, privacy glass, ambient light package and luggage compartment package.

In addition to this, the S Line interior package ($1100) adds Alcantara and leatherette upholstery, black headlining flat-bottomed steering wheel, stainless steel pedals and footrest, silver grey inlays and accent surfaces in grey.

On Audi’s current top-end A7, A8 and Q8 models there’s an 80 per cent uptake on the Premium Plus packages but on the 40 TFSI expectations are lower at around 30-50 per cent.

Special paint costs $490 and metallic paint will set you back $990.

The Audi A1 Sportback comes with a three-year, unlimited kilometre warranty and service intervals of 12 months or 15,000km. Audi’s new three- and five-year service plans cost $1480 and $1990 respectively.

“If people are signing up, especially as a finance contract, they can wrap it all up in the finance contract and it’s all done -- nothing to think about for the three or five years,” Ticehurst told carsales.

The Audi A1 Sportback has a five-star ANCAP safety rating and is on sale now.

How much does the 2019 Audi A1 Sportback cost?
30 TFSI -- $32,350
35 TFSI -- $35,290
40 TFSI -- $46,450
Style Package (30 and 35 TFSI) -- $2990
Technik pack (35 TFSI) -- $3200
Premium Plus (40 TFSI) -- $2990
S Line interior package (40 TFSI) -- $1100
* All prices exclude on road costs