Local News: Audi A1 arrives in Singapore

Managing Director of Audi Singapore, Reinhold Carl: “The A1 is truly the next big Audi. Urban living demands a compact city car like the A1 that still features the quality and high-tech features of a ‘full-size’ Audi. The A1 is also a very emotional car with its sophisticated design, stylish interior and dazzling array of customising possibilities that provide young Singaporeans with the freedom to express their personal style and have fun at the same time.
“In 2010, Audi Singapore set new sales records again, achieving its fifth consecutive year of growth. The Audi A1, along with at least eight other new model introductions in the market this year, will allow us to continue our strategy of expanding our footprint in Singapore.”

Winner of several prestigious automotive awards around the world including the Golden Steering Wheel and the Autonis design award, the A1 packs all the distinctively-Audi elements in a small package measuring no longer than 3.95 metres in length. The A1’s cutting-edge design integrates the youngest Audi seamlessly into the large Audi model family. The encircling shoulder line, the front end with dominating single-frame grille, distinctive roof arch, coupé-like C-pillars, and large wheel arches are among its defining style elements.

High- and ultra high-strength steels comprise two-thirds of the Audi A1’s body. The strongest of these are the hot-shaped steels, which draw their extremely high tensile strength from a dramatic temperature increase during the shaping process. Hot- shaped steels are used primarily within the passenger cell. They provide the basis for the precise, agile handling, the good comfort, the quiet interior, the excellent passive safety and the low base weight of the Audi A1.

The interior of the Audi A1 is spacious, bright and airy. The instrument panel resembles an airplane wing, with its four round air vents reminiscent of jet engines. The clean and clear control layout is just as much a classic Audi strength as the high level of fit and finish quality while the attention lavished on numerous details underscores the premium character of the Audi A1. Innovative materials and modern colours emphasise the youthful character of the car.

One of the main features of the new Audi A1 is the wide range of customisation options available. Whether it is coloured air vents, LED interior lights or seat covers in expressive tones – the high level of equipment offers countless opportunities for matching the A1 to the driver’s own personal style. There is even a variety of paint finishes to choose from for the roof arch, and customers can order additional features after the initial launch as well, further broadening the possibilities of customising the A1.

Whether in the city or on the expressway – the Audi A1 is always great fun to drive, thanks to its nimble chassis, favourable weight distribution, and the direct steering. The Audi A1 in Singapore comes standard with a seven- speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission that shifts gears extremely quickly, comfortably and with no perceptible interruption to the flow of power. It can be operated either as an automatic or manually with steering wheel shift paddles also available as an option, providing for tremendously fun driving and further reducing fuel consumption – distinct Audi features. The car also includes Audi’s standard ESP stabilisation programme with electronic limited slip differential, making the handling even more precise while enhancing driving safety.

The new Audi A1 is powered by a highly efficient 1.4 TFSI engine that generates 122 bhp and a peak torque of 200 Nm from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm. Paired with the seven- speed S tronic, the A1 goes from zero to 100 km/h in just 8.9 seconds to a top speed of 203 km/h. By substituting turbocharging for displacement and drawing its fuel through direct injection units with a high compression ratio, the Audi A1 1.4 TFSI demonstrates its efficiency with an average fuel consumption of just 5.3 litres/100 km and CO2 emissions of 122 g/km.

Following in the wake of the Audi A1 1.4 TFSI is the formidable dual-charged 1.4 TFSI with a compact, lightweight engine that produces an impressive 185 bhp and 250 Nm of torque. The special concept engine combines a supercharger with a turbocharger, propelling the A1 1.4 TFSI from 0 to 100km in just 6.9 seconds and the top speed is 227 km/h. This engine is also designed for high efficiency, with the supercharger springing into action between 1,500 and 2,400 rpm to strengthen responsiveness in the lower end of the rev range and enabling the use of a large turbocharger that comes in at around 3,500 rpm. This translates to an excellent average fuel consumption of 5.9 litres/100 km and CO2 emissions of only 139 g/km.

Many of the infotainment and multimedia systems for the new Audi A1 can be found in Audi’s existing premium fleet. The top of the line system option for the A1 is the MMI navigation plus, a media centre that sets new standards in the compact segment that was first seen in Audi’s new A8 flagship. The system also includes a monitor that folds out from the instrument panel, a slick control unit and MMI logic. It can store 20 GB of music, includes two SDHC card readers, and uses a Bluetooth interface and the Audi music interface (AMI) to connect modern mobile media players easily and conveniently.

The Audi A1 also features a drive for audio and video DVDs, and even an intelligent voice control system that understands twelve languages, allowing the driver to speak the entire destination address at once and also control the main radio, media and telephone functions by voice. In addition, Audi has devoted a great deal of attention to the aspect of light and visibility – the high-beam assistant detects other vehicles and automatically changes between the high and low beams.

The new Audi A1 1.4 TFSI with 7-speed S tronic and 122 bhp will be available in Singapore at $126,888.00 (inclusive of COE) from March 23, 2011. The dual-charged Audi A1 1.4 TFSI with 185 bhp will be available in Singapore later in the year at $149,888 (inclusive of COE).

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