A new 5 door Sportback edition of Audi’s A1 premium subcompact hatchback is to be made available to pre-order later this month, with the first deliveries going out in spring 2012.
Priced at between £13,980 and £21,270 the new five door offers easier access for £560, which is the extra premium placed on top of the price for the three door model.
In addition to full 5 seat capacity, one more than the old A1, there is also a small increase in head and shoulder space in the new model, with the overall dimensions showing an increased height by 6mm and also a 6mm increase in width compared to the 3-door A1.
The luggage capacity of the new car, however, will remain the same - 270-litres with the seats up, or 920-litres with the backrests of the rear seats folded down. There is also the option of an extra luggage package which features divided storage compartments located underneath the floor.
Powered by your choice of four different engines which are to be made available in the UK on launch – a 1.2 TFSI petrol (85bhp, 118lb-ft), 1.4 TFSI petrol (120bhp, 148lb-ft), 1.4 TFSI twin-charge petrol (182bhp, 184lb-ft), 1.6 TDI diesel (104bhp, 184lb-ft), you get to pick the best balance of performance and efficiency for your needs.
The 1.6 TDI diesel has the best efficiency, managing 74.3mpg with CO2 emissions coming in at 99g/km, but if high performance is your priority then you may want to wait for the 2.0 TDI which is due to be released in the summer of 2012 and which will develop 141bhp and torque of 236lb-ft. If you don’t want to wait then the best performance can be gained from the 1.4 TFSI which produces 182bhp and features a 7-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission capable of very speed gear shifts which help the car to manage a 0-62mph time of 7.0 seconds and a top speed of 141mph. You can also get the same high performance gearbox as an option with the 1.4TFSI 120bhp model
Each of the engines, apart from the 182bhp, has their efficiency enhanced by the inclusion of a start-stop engine feature.
Standard features which will be included with all models include the split folding seats, electric windows in both the front and the back, ESP with the latest differential lock system, air con, alloy wheels, and an audio system which has both CD player and MP3 connectivity.
There are also plenty of options available. One exclusive option for this model will be a full roof paint finish in one of 3 contrasting colours. There is also a new colour for the main bodywork which has been added to the 11 which were previously available – the 5 door Sportback will also come in 'Samoa Orange'.
If you wish you can also opt for Xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running light and LED tail lights, light sensors and rain sensors, high-beam assist, cruise control, heated seats, and a full climate control system to replace the basic air con.
Other additions for the sports model include the bigger 16 inch wheels, sports seats and sports suspension, and Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity. The S line upgrade has 17 inch alloy wheels, leather and cloth combination upholstery and S line exterior styling.
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