Neither the BMW nor Mercedes-Benz brands has a car in the global B segment, leaving Audi’s A1 unchallenged in the 4m long premium hatchback class. The range is being further expanded with the arrival of the citycarver, a variant which has pricing to match its (slightly) elevated height.
Particularly in Europe, Audi has endured a tough year or two. Most of the trouble was self-inflicted or dropped on it from the parent company: some continued fall-out from the diesel scandal but more than that, powertrains which were not ready for WLTP norms. Another issue is the age of the A3. Sales of the current model, which dates to 2012, have fallen away to such an extent that the A4 has now become the brand’s number one model in Germany.
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Next year is shaping up to be a far better one for Audi but already, things are improving. Home market sales have rebounded from a terrible tumble, November deliveries shooting up by 41 per cent (to 18,576 vehicles) and the brand back in fifth position ahead of Skoda and behind Ford.
A1 sales surge
Helped by the arrival of the new citycarver, the A1 is also surging in Germany, November registrations being up by 44 per cent to 1,713 and 17,181 year-to-date. That trend is echoed in the greater European region. The way things stand, combined sales of all variants are on course to exceed 75,000 units in EU and EFTA markets by year-end.
All A1s are manufactured by SEAT at Martorell, the same plant which builds the Ibiza, a car which shares powertrains and the Volkswagen Group’s MQB AO platform. The real volume comes from the VW Polo though plus multiple other small vehicles from various brands, including the Skoda Fabia, Scala and Kamiq, SEAT Arona, Audi Q2 and the one that’s really beginning to take off all over Europe, the VW T-Cross. Of course BMW has Mini but Daimler must look at Volkswagen’s MQB AO-based B-segment strategy and sales volume with envious eyes.
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By GlobalDataNo diesel, no quattro
One of the unusual things about this new Audi and indeed all A1s is the lack of quattro all-wheel drive. That’s probably also why we are yet to see any successor for the Audi S1. So it’s front-wheel drive only for the citycarver but there is at least a choice when it comes to engines although none of them is a diesel.
The 25 TFSI and 30 TFSI are powered respectively by 70kW (95PS) and 85kW (116PS) versions of a 999cc turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine. Torque outputs are 175 and 200Nm. The alternative is a 1,498cc unit with four cylinders and outputs of 110kW (150PS) and 250Nm. The 147kW (200PS) and 320Nm 2.0-litre TFSI from the top-spec A1 isn’t available, at least not yet.
Whichever engine a buyer chooses, a six-speed manual gearbox is standard and an S tronic-branded seven-speed dual clutch transmission optionally available. The sole exception to that is the 25 TFSI. In countries where this base variant is offered, and Britain isn’t one, the manual gearbox has only five ratios and it’s that or nothing: the S tronic is reserved for the three more powerful engines.
The car I tried was equipped with the 116PS engine and the twin-clutch transmission. Although priced from just over GBP21,000, it’s easy to spend almost thirty thousand pounds on the citycarver. How so? The auto gearbox is GBP1,540, contrasting roof paint is GBP425, Technology (Nav) and Plus (dual zone climate, centre armrest and darkened back windows) Packs are GBP1,695 and GBP695. Then there’s the Comfort and Sound pack (GBP1,150) which bundles a B&O sound system with heated seats and front parking sensors. If you want a spare tyre – it’s a space saver – Audi will charge you GBP100. Don’t think that includes a jack though. Nope. Nor is there a tool kit. These cost a further GBP25. Seriously.
Is the citycarver worth the extra it costs compared to the likes of the Fiesta Active? That depends on what your idea of a premium brand is. What does it say about Audi that even when the decontenting is obvious – no keyless start, electric parking brake or would you believe overhead grab handles in the back – this still feels like a model from a posh brand? It’s how the interior is laid out, the obvious high quality feel of everything you see and touch, the thunk of all four doors and even the tailgate. All very Audi, all very German.
There’s not much in it but you can feel a touch more body roll in the citycarver compared to the standard A1. Standard 17-inch wheels and 205/55 series tyres causes no issues with ride quality which remains remarkably good, and really, with only 116PS, no-one is going to get into too much trouble in a citycarver 30 TFSI anyway.
Aside from the longer suspension travel, the car is marked out from other A1s by a matte-black grille, standard LED headlights and stainless steel skidplate at the front end. At the back, the differences are fewer but there are LED tail lights with dynamic indicators (remember when the last of these was a big ticket option on the R8?). Audi has also given the citycarver dark trim around the wheelarches and along the side sills.
Summary
As a car for those who fancy something a bit different to other A1s but who don’t want or need the more expensive Q2, the A1 citycarver – priced from GBP21,155.00 – could be just the ticket. Might we also see this new name applied to other Audis? The next A3 seems a likely candidate.
