The latest reports indicate the car will be based around the same platform as VW's up, and will do battle with the likes of Ford's Ka and the Fiat 500 as well, though only in their most up-level trims. Audi's tiny car will go one step farther than any of the competition on engine design, however, with a choice of either a petrol or diesel version of a 600cc turbocharged two-cylinder expected to lie at its heart.
The small engine will certainly be underpowered for extended highway use, but with CO2 emissions under 100g/km and about 80mpg US (2.9L/100km) fuel efficiency, according to AutoExpress, the car will be an easy to operate, low-tax tool for getting around any major city. An electric powertrain is also being considered, but as yet no details on its capabilities have surfaced.
Positioned below the A1, the tiny city car would also get a 1.2L three-cylinder, which would be more highway-capable than its two-pot brethren. Nevertheless, the up! based vehicle will still be primarily targeted at younger, affluent, urban audiences with an emphasis on technology and style. Audi's A1 Metroproject is expected to be the basis for many of the design elements of the new car.
The fact that so much of the Audi city car's competition is gearing up for U.S. sale and/or production hints that the Audi could be sold in America as well, though poor exchange rates, high transport costs and a generally weak economy could conspire against such a decision. Nevertheless, given the expected production time frame, Audi should have several years to makes its decision.
While the VW version of the up! will be hitting the streets in 2010, the Audi variant will have to wait a while, and is not expected until 2012. For more information and possibilities of what could be in store, check out our earlier preview of the next-gen minicar.
Reader Comments
Thu Oct 30 2008 3:31 PM
NoNameDenton says
Built it in VW's upcoming America plant to keep the exchange rate form hurting it
Thu Oct 30 2008 4:38 PM
HECTOR says
Positioned below the A1? So... like an A0, no? How long before we see the A-1?
I hope never to see this abortion on the streets. I hope it tanks like the 1 Series did for BMW.
Thu Oct 30 2008 5:28 PM
NoNameDenton says
1 series would be better with turbo 4s and a cheaper price
Fri Oct 31 2008 7:33 PM
NaBUru38 says
Dollar is recovering value, now it's time to build cars in Eastern Europe and Mexico.
Had Audi named its future Polo/Fabia-derived subcomapct car "A2", this city car could have been named A1.
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