Audi gets serious with upgraded A1
Plenty of engine choices for fans of Audi’s baby A1
AUDI’S two smallest cars, the A1 hatch and A1 Sportback, have undergone some minor stylistic and major mechanical upgrades for 2015.
Most of what’s happening aesthetically now matches what the hottest model, the S1 quattro, was already fitted with late last year, as this particular derivative was launched in SA with its facelift already in place. But now the rest of the range has caught up in terms of exterior looks and along with new head and tail lights there are new bumpers, revised fog lights and surrounds, and a new rear diffuser panel.
Lower S and SE versions can now also be specced with a R22 000 optional Active Kit, which makes the VW Polo-based hatchback look like a miniature A4 Allroad with some brawnier wheel arches and side sills, and a set of specific alloy wheels. The entire range can also be had with some new paint colours and a few new wheel styles, ranging from 15 to 18 inches. Gone are some of the previous trim lines such as Amplified and Admired, but all models can still be personalised with custom all sorts inside and out, and Audi says more than 250 000 different configurations are possible.
But it’s under the A1’s stubby little bonnet where the most significant changes have happened, with a new electro-mechanical power-steering system, two new engines, and a slight tweak to another. The new drivetrains are also met with an untangled naming strategy, as base models in both three-door A1 and five-door Sportback ranges are now simply known by “S” monikers. Here a new 1-litre three-cylinder turbo with 70kW and 160Nm has been employed to take the place of the previous 63kW/160Nm 1.2 turbo. Along with the power boost, the new engine’s claimed average consumption of 4.3 litres/100km betters the outgoing 1.2 engine’s 5.1 litres by some margin.
Middles spec A1s retain the previous 1.4 turbo (now exclusively used in SE variants), but output has been increased slightly to 92kW (from 90) while its torque figure of 200Nm is unchanged. Average consumption has been improved to 5l/100km from 5.3 according to Audi.
The 136kW 1.4 turbo engine fitted to what was formerly known as the S-Line (now just “Sport”), has been replaced with a bigger 1.8 turbo with new 141kW and 250Nm.
This engine, which is shared with VW’s latest Polo GTI, is good for 0-100km/h in 6.8 seconds says Audi, and comes only with a seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic gearbox.
This transmission is now also available as an option in all models, except for the top S1 which comes with a six-speed manual only. The all-wheel drive S1 is unchanged from its December launch specification and still uses a 170kW/370Nm 2-litre turbo.
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of Pricing: A1 1.0T FSI S 5-speed manual - R 265 000 A1 1.0T FSI 7-speed S tronic - R 282 500 A1 1.4T FSI SE 6-speed manual - R 298 500 A1 1.4T FSI SE 7-speed S tronic - R 316 000 A1 1.8T FSI Sport 7-speed S tronic - R 382 500 S1 2.0T FSI quattro 6-speed manual - R 452 500 A1 Sportback 1.0T FSI S 5-speed manual - R 272 500 A1 Sportback 1.0T FSI 7-speed S tronic - R 290 000 A1 Sportback 1.4T FSI SE 6-speed manual - R 306 000 A1 Sportback 1.4T FSI SE 7-speed S tronic - R 323 500 A1 Sportback 1.8T FSI Sport 7-speed S tronic - R 390 000 S1 Sportback 2.0T FSI quattro 6-speed manual - R 460 000 TOYOTA South Africa has given its budget Etios range a modest upgrade for 2015, and added an even more modest R100 price increase to all models.
All versions of the budget hatch and sedan range come with a new Jet Grey metallic paint choice, and upper Xs models get a more upmarket anthracite seat fabric.
The Xs also now comes with the same double-din sized stereo system with piano black and chrome trim bezels that were previous available in the Etios Cross only, but basic Xi derivatives are still specced without radios.
All Etios hatchbacks have also been updated with a lift function for the parcel shelf.
No changes have been made to mechanicals and all models are still fitted with the same 66kW/132Nm 1.5-litre petrol engines and five-speed manual transmissions. Etios Pricing: 1.5 hatch Xi 1.5 hatch Xs 1.5 sedan Xi 1.5 sedan Xs Etios Cross