After being impressed by the Diesel version of the A1, we were anxious to drive this dynamic car with its precision handling and feel once again, but this time with a smooth and willing gasoline engine under the bonnet. So we drove the 122 hp or 90 kW version of the well proven 1390 cc engine.

And what a good combination this is, the smooth free revving yet powerful engine adding still more to the driving pleasure…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Our test car came with a very pleasing interior trim...
 

Downsizing…

This 4 cilinder engine with four valves per cylinder fits of course in Audi’s downsizing philosophy, substituting raw engine displacement with turbocharger technology. Indeed, a turbocharger with a water-cooled turbocharger is at work here, and performs miracles. The 1390 cc engine totally belies its smaller size, and behaves rather like a very healthy two litre engine. It shows impressive pulling power from 1500 rpm onwards, with a peak torque of 200 Nm (147.51 lb-ft) being continuously available between 1,500 and 4,000 rpm. So there is hardly any need to rev the engine any further than 2500 rpm to enjoy brisk acceleration and liveliness.

Nevertheless, the engine emits a beautiful staccato when revved higher, and combined with the slick and precise changing 6-speed gearbox, sporty driving is a delight.

Of course, also the Audi drivetrain and suspension comes then truly into its own, and the stopwatch shows you are really going places. With the manual box, the A1 sprints from 0 to 100 in 9.2 seconds, and reaches a top speed of exactly 200 kph, or 124.27 mph.

When using the good torque of the engine, and avoiding higher revs in city traffic, one can achieve quite impressive consumption figures. Using the start-stop function, we achieved less than 6 litres driving on the Brussels streets and boulevards. Our average test consumption hovered around the 5.5 litre mark. Really, we do not need to say more…

Our test car came equipped with a pleasing sporty ‘Ambition’ interior trim. Standard with the Ambition trim line are numerous aluminum-look control elements, including the entry strips, the dials for the automatic climate control system and the light dials. Furthermore, the ring of the three-spoke sport steering wheel, the parking brake handle and the gear shift lever are wrapped in leather (orange in our test car) and adorned with subtle aluminum clips. We liked the colour combination and the sportiness of it all, which is, according to Audi, ‘youthful and lifestyle-oriented.’

Our car also featured a roof spoiler, which also distinctly added to the style of the car, as was the pack ‘Competition Aerodynamic’.

The test car was also shod with 215/40 R17 tyres, and the handling was exceptional. Suffice to say that the standard ESP stabilization system with electronic axle-differential lock makes the handling of the A1 even more sporty and precise.

Needless to say, we regretted parting with this A1, but we look forward to testing the even more powerful version of the 1.4 TSFI, with 185 horsepower under the bonnet…    

Hans Knol ten Bensel    

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