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Preview: Audi working on new E1 minicar

 
7 5,836 views Jul 22, 2009
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2011 audi e1 preview rendering 001

The E1 will be the first of a range of new ‘ecological’ models spanning everything from minicars to performance models

The E1 will be the first of a range of new ‘ecological’ models spanning everything from minicars to performance models

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Even as fuel prices slide back down to pre-crunch levels, the automotive industry knows it's only a temporary respite and continues its up-shift for a new layer of premium small cars. On the German front, BMW is thought to be working on a sub-1-series mini car, Daimler already has its Smart, and soon Audi will join the club with its own fuel-sipping urban warrior.

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, Toyota iQ and the Fiat 500. The car is expected to be called the E1 and is to be the entry to a range of new ‘ecological’ models, which will span everything from minicars to performance models.

Power will come from a 600cc turbocharged two-cylinder engine in either petrol or diesel guises. The small engines will certainly be underpowered for extended highway use, but with CO2 emissions under 100g/km and about 80mpg (2.9L/100km) fuel efficiency, the E1 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 E1 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.

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 E1 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 late 2011. Production will be handled at VW’s plant in Bratislava, Slovakia, alongside the up! version as well as Skoda and Seat variants.
Preview: Audi 'City' car

HI-RES GALLERY: 2011 audi e1 preview rendering 001




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Comments (7)

  1. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 10/30/2008 3:31pm PDT

    Built it in VW's upcoming America plant to keep the exchange rate form hurting it
     
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  2. ma_HECTOR avatar HECTOR Posted: 10/30/2008 4:38pm PDT

    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.
     
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  3. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 10/30/2008 5:28pm PDT

    1 series would be better with turbo 4s and a cheaper price
     
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  4. ma_NaBUru38 avatar NaBUru38 Posted: 10/31/2008 7:33pm PDT

    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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  5. ma_migueldefesas avatar migueldefesas Posted: 7/22/2009 6:42am PDT

    The Bmw city car is far more beautiful then this Audi.
    It lokes like the old A3
     
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  6. ma_migueldefesas avatar migueldefesas Posted: 7/22/2009 6:43am PDT

    Sory A2
    Bmw city[url=http://www.speedheads.de/auto/zukunft/bilder/bmw_city-4482-46.jpg]
     
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  7. ma_btlh2oguy avatar btlh2oguy Posted: 7/22/2009 8:10am PDT

    I like this. It stands out more than images of other city cars.
    It needs to be in the 500 price range. Which might be hard to do.
     
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