The Audi Company, it seems, has decided to fill all the niches with its A1. First of all, they added two extra doors to their own little three – door hatchback then offered a variant with the four – wheel drive Quattro - more likely for maintaining the image than for the work. And now it announces about the development of a cabriolet based on the same model.
But it is not that simple. According to the Audi director Rupert Stadler, making a Cabriolet from A1 is impractical because it will be sold at too high price. However, Audi has confirmed that some ”semi – open” modified compact hatchback is being manufactured.
There have already been the sketches of the three – door A1 with a cloth roof. According to the unconfirmed information, the new A1 Cabrio will be equipped with a broad panel made of cloth with an electric drive, which will occupy 80% of the roof. To remove this panel you can by clicking. Something similar has also Fiat 500C. It is really an affordable and simple solution in comparison with the development of the platform for the cabriolet. All the racks are in their places, the rear part of the hatchback also remains intact.
Also, the line will soon be filled up with the “charged” version of S1. According to the rumors, the car will be ready within 18 months. It will be equipped with a turbocharged 2 – liter engine. The capacity has not been revealed yet, the range of the conjecture: 182 hp of the model A1 1.4 TFSI up to 256 hp A1 quattro.
There are also plans to create a subcompact crossover Q1. The Germans have not yet finally confirmed that A1 will be the the basis for the future innovations, they are also considering the new platform of A2 or A3 of the next generation. But it is more logical to use A1 as it already has an all – wheel drive version. The new crossover will receive a four – wheel drive, an increased ground clearance and a modernized suspension. Externally the car, will be difficult to distinguish from other “Ku”, except in size according to the tradition of the Audi Company. The car can be expected no earlier than 2014.
