What's this then?
This is the all-new Audi A1 hatchback.
Really? it looks a bit angry...
Yes, it does a touch. Audi seems to be swinging for the boundary rope with the styling for the second generation of its smallest hatchback, and if you were to sotto-voce mention the Hyundai Kona we wouldn't necessarily disagree with you. There is a lower, wider, radiator grille with more piercing looking lights, bigger, deeper bumpers front and rear, with aggressive cut-outs for lights and air intake and, on the bonnet, three 'nostril' style air intakes are meant to evoke memories of the Quattro S1 rally car from the eighties.
Eighties-style power outputs too?
Sadly not. Actually the (all-petrol) A1 engine line-up kicks off with the 95hp 1.0-litre three-cylinder TSI unit, and spreads out to four-cylinder options with a 1.5-litre 150hp model and a 2.0-litre engine with as much as 200hp. There will be a really fast version, though - a 300hp (there or thereabouts) S1 quattro at some point, as well as a half-electric plugin hybrid using e-tron badging, which will arrive 'eventually.'
What about the interior?
It's less aggressive than the exterior, but equally it's easy to spot the structure and basic shape of the Polo's cabin in there. Audi is going all-digital inside the A1 in an attempt to distance itself from the cheaper VW, though, with standard-fit (specs to be confirmed for the UK, mind you) 'Virtual Cockpit' digital instrument panel and big screens in the centre of the dash, sized from 8.8 to 10 inches. There's a banging 560-watt B&O sound system, if your pockets are deep enough, too.
On the safety front, there's an upgraded autonomous emergency braking system that can detect other cars, pedestrians and cyclists and which Audi claims can work even in thick fog.
When's it coming?
Later this year, and you can pretty safely expect prices to rise by a good chunk over those of the current model.
Neil Briscoe - 20 Jun 2018