BERLIN: Audi has upgraded its A1 small car line-up by adding a new three-cylinder petrol engine, with emissions of 97g/km the 1.0-litre unit, which takes the A1’s petrol choices into free road tax diesel territory. Audi also cuts the entry-level price of the A1 to £14,315.
With the 1-litre engine matched to a five-speed manual gearbox in either three-door hatch or five-door Sportback versions, the A1 takes 10.9 seconds to reach 62mph and goes on to 116mph. It also returns combined cycle fuel economy of 67.3mpg.
The 94bhp turbocharged petrol engine effectively replaces the 88bhp 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine that has been available in the A1 since launch. Also boasting 118lbft of torque, it can also be specified with a seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission. Performance figures remain the same but with slight decreases in efficiency to 64.2mpg and 102g/km.
For comparison, the 1.6-litre TDI diesel is the most frugal engine in the A1 line-up at 80.7mpg and 92g/km.
A1 models with the new engine can be specified in SE or Sport specification, both versions including alloy wheels, remote central locking, air conditioning, electric front windows and mirrors and a six-speaker single CD audio system with auxiliary iPod connection linked to a 6.5-inch retractable display.
A secondary collision brake assist system, which can initiate automatic braking to reduce the risks of skidding and additional collisions during an accident, is also now standard.
