Bloody hell, that’s one very hot Polo…
Or one very well disguised Audi A1. Unless you were really looking carefully, this prototype could easily be mistaken for a tuned Polo. Even we considered the possibility of a mad run-out edition of the mint with a hole. But no. Under this disguise is an early prototype of Audi’s forthcoming Mini-rivalling A1. That's why it's running on Ingolstadt number plates, you see. And there are more clues, more of which later. The real A1 won’t appear in Audi dealers until 2009, but a concept version is expected at next month’s Tokyo Motor Show. But you don't have to wait that long. Back in July 2007, CAR Online had a world exclusive when we got hold of leaked Audi sketches. These were direct from Audi’s design studio and showed us exactly what the A1 will look like.
But hasn’t Audi already tried the small car thing with the A2?
It has, but unfortunately that car was too expensive and never took off in the numbers required to make it a hit. The old A2 ceased production in 2005, and arguably was too far ahead of its time. Had it been launched now, its aluminium platform and eco-credentials would no doubt have made the car a success. Now Audi is having another crack with the A1, though it won’t be as revolutionary as the A2. It’s all part of Audi’s plans to become the world’s largest premium car maker by 2015.
Or one very well disguised Audi A1. Unless you were really looking carefully, this prototype could easily be mistaken for a tuned Polo. Even we considered the possibility of a mad run-out edition of the mint with a hole. But no. Under this disguise is an early prototype of Audi’s forthcoming Mini-rivalling A1. That's why it's running on Ingolstadt number plates, you see. And there are more clues, more of which later. The real A1 won’t appear in Audi dealers until 2009, but a concept version is expected at next month’s Tokyo Motor Show. But you don't have to wait that long. Back in July 2007, CAR Online had a world exclusive when we got hold of leaked Audi sketches. These were direct from Audi’s design studio and showed us exactly what the A1 will look like.
But hasn’t Audi already tried the small car thing with the A2?
It has, but unfortunately that car was too expensive and never took off in the numbers required to make it a hit. The old A2 ceased production in 2005, and arguably was too far ahead of its time. Had it been launched now, its aluminium platform and eco-credentials would no doubt have made the car a success. Now Audi is having another crack with the A1, though it won’t be as revolutionary as the A2. It’s all part of Audi’s plans to become the world’s largest premium car maker by 2015.
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