Audi reveals the all-new 2019 A1 Sportback

MANILA: After teasing the sport back for a number of times, Audi has finally taken the covers off the all-new A1 Sportback. The RS-inspired A1 gets aggressive styling and a black-colored sloping roof that adds to its sporty character. The car is said to have taken most of its styling cues from the rally series of cars, Ur-Quattro and the Sport Quattro.

The all-new A1 Sportback will be offered in two engine options, 1.0-litre and 1.4-litre. The former three-cylinder engine will be a part of the entry-level A1 producing a max power of 95PS, mated to either an S-Tronic dual clutch or a 6-speed manual gearbox. While the latter is a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that churns out 200PS of peak power coupled to an S-Tronic gearbox.

On the outside, the new A1 Sportback gets a larger Singleframe grille, LED headlamps and the Audi RS5 inspired air inlet. Over the side, notable elements include the flat C-pillar and the sloping roof. At the back, it gets the wraparound tail LED tail lights and vents at either end of the sporty bumper. Depending on the A1 trim, customers can choose from the three available alloy choices - 15-inch, 16-inch or 17-inch. The hatch looks sportier and muscular than its predecessor, measuring 4,030mm in length, 1,740mm in width and 1,410mm in height.

Inside, the 2019 A1 gets sporty touch just like the outside. While the standard trim gets an 8.8-inch MMI touch infotainment system, the higher variants of the A1 get a bigger 10.1-inch display. As per the officials at Audi, the cabin is ' driver-focused, with its emotive, customizable design’. Moreover, the A1 gets Audi’s virtual cockpit taken directly from the Audi A8. The carried over features from the A8 include pre sense front, lane keep assist and adaptive speed assist.

What’s different on the A1 are the dials and physical buttons for radio controls and the HVAC that have been ditched on the A8. With the new A1 Sportback, you, as a customer, get an option to choose an ambient lighting package with up to 30 selectable colours.

The all-new Audi A1 Sportback is expected to go on sale in the later part of 2018 as a 2019 model.