Audi unveils sharply-styled new A1 Sportback

Audi has revealed the second generation of its smallest car – the A1. The current model has come to the end of its seven-year life, and its replacement has a new platform, updated styling and bang up-to-date technology.

The A1 is based on the same platform as the Seat Ibiza and latest Volkswagen Polo. With the three-door model having been removed from the range, the new A1 will only be available as a five-door Sportback.

The ‘cute and classy’ vibe of the first-gen car has been replaced with a more angular and purposeful design language that’s said to have been inspired by the 1980s Audi Sport Quattro.

The three slots at the front of the bonnet and the single-frame grille are clear tributes to that legendary car.

Moving further back, the A1 gets a new C-pillar treatment inspired by the Q2 SUV, while the car’s flanks feature the brand’s signature sharp-edged creases. Full LED head- and tail-lights feature, while alloy wheels of up to 18 inches are available.

The biggest change has come inside, where the A1 now feels more like a shrunken A8 than a posh Polo. Every single model, even at the entry level, comes with a fully digital instrument cluster and an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment display. Top-end trim upgrades this to 10.1-inches – the largest screen we’ve seen in a supermini.

Options throughout the range include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatability, a Bang & Olufsen stereo system and Audi’s MMI Plus technology, which adds real-time capability to the infotainment. Buyers will be able to access social media as well as live traffic and Google Earth updates.

Safety kit has also been improved, with a reversing camera, lane departure warning system, active cruise control and autonomous braking all making their debut on the A1.

The engine line-up is petrol-only, unlike that of the previous model which included a 1.6-litre TDI option. No hot S version has been announced yet, so the range spans from an entry-level 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine with 95bhp up to the range-topper, with double the power and capacity at 2.0 litres and 197bhp.

All versions are front-wheel drive and mated to a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic gearbox.

The new A1 will go on sale this September. Pricing has not yet been announced, but expect a slight increase over the outgoing model – especially with no cheaper three-door model available.