Audi A1 Sportback Concept

Audi A1 Sportback Concept - New five-door interpretation of A1 project quattro show car first shown in Tokyo in 2007

Combines 150PS 1.4 TFSI petrol engine with a 20 kW (27 hp) electric motor

The 2008 Paris Motor Show will play host to a new variation on the theme of a more compact Audi – the five-door A1 Sportback concept study – which combines cutting-edge styling with optimum economy of space, supreme quality and a series of visionary technical solutions that help to reduce CO2 emissions to just 92 g/km. The 3.99-metre long and 1.75-metre wide study furthers the many advances made by the three-door A1 project quattro show car which debuted in Tokyo in 2007.

A new version of the innovative hybrid technology employed in the A1 project quattro provides power for the A1 Sportback concept. Under the bonnet is a transversely mounted 1.4-litre TFSI engine developing 150PS and 240Nm, and directing this to the front wheels by means of the S tronic dual-clutch transmission. A 20 kW (27 hp) electric motor integrated in the drive train is able to deliver up to an additional 150 Nm of torque (110.63 lb-ft) when the vehicle is accelerating.

During the boosting phase, i.e. when the TFSI engine and electric motor operate simultaneously, the two power packs deliver impressive propulsion. The tried-and-tested front-wheel drive configuration – supplemented by the newly developed, ESP-controlled active front differential lock – ensures optimum power transfer to the road.

The electric motor is also capable of powering the vehicle unaided for zero-emission driving in residential areas, for instance. The capacity of the lithium-ion batteries gives the vehicle a range of up to 62.14 miles in pure electric mode; the motor can be recharged from any power socket. The automatic start/stop facility, energy regeneration and phases of purely electrical operation reduce the fuel consumption and emissions of the Audi A1 Sportback concept by almost 30 percent compared to when it is running on the combustion engine alone. Despite its strong performance, with acceleration of 0 to 62mph in 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 124mph, the Audi A1 Sportback concept is nevertheless capable of returning up to 72.4mpg; CO2 emissions are an efficient 92 g/km.

Overrun, or the so-called regeneration phase, is one of the most important elements of this vehicle concept for optimizing efficiency as it transforms the braking energy released during deceleration phases back into electrical energy, instead of it being wasted and released as heat.

The shock absorbers cushioning the A1 Sportback concept deploy a highly innovative technology in the form of Audi magnetic ride, which has already made its mark in the Audi R8 high-performance sports car and in the TT.

Dynamic ability and efficiency in the A1 Sportback concept are also enhanced by Audi drive select, which is currently available as an option in the A4, A5 and Q5 ranges. This enables the driver to pre-select one of two specially adapted configurations for the drivetrain, shift characteristics and magnetic ride shock absorbers.

Externally, the taut lines of the A1 Sportback concept’s futuristic body are emphasized by flared arches that pay homage to the Ur quattros of the 1980s, and to today’s RS6. At the front, the design of the three-dimensional main headlights using innovative LED technology is especially eye-catching.

The interplay of acute and obtuse angles and the clear and coloured glass areas create a particularly dynamic look. A large-dimensioned, transparent cover over the entire width of the vehicle additionally combines both light units and emphasizes the horizontal design of the rear.