When you think about it, the major motor vehicle turf tussle has traditionally been between the Germans and the Japs. Both are proven leaders in design and technology, both produce cars that, albeit poles apart, and vastly different from each other, boast superior engineering, performance and finish.
And let’s be honest here: you’re either a Japanese car fan, or a lover of German engineering.
I’ve always wavered between the two, having enjoyed love affairs with both schools of design.
Right now, though, I’m firmly in the Teutonic camp. That’s because I’m passionately in love with Audi’s newest little pocket rocket, the Audi A1.
It blew me away. Truth be told, the immediate attraction was partially due to the colour of my test car. Cumulus Blue, it’s called – not quite a baby blue, more just a hint of pale summer sky that sometimes looks almost white. Stunning. Alternatives are equally exciting. There’s the distinctive Misano Red (great shade for a nail polish!), Sphere Blue (metallic), Shiraz Red, Teak Brown…various shades of black (Phantom and Brilliant), and a delicious Amalfi White, among others.
Interestingly, when parked beside the A3, the latter appeared almost dated – and staid, in comparison to the Audi A1.
FSI Attraction
The A1, designed to rival Mini, and Alfa’s MiTo, ain’t cheap: it comes with a price tag of R219 900 for the entry level 1.2T FSI Attraction (manual). The heftiest price is linked to the top of the range 1.4T FSI Ambition, which will set you back R270 500.
With just three doors, the car might seem over-priced to the average working class hero, but it’s an awesome little machine, and if you’ve got the loot, I’d say it’s worth it.
You’ll love the instant acceleration, surprising torque and power from the turbocharged motor. It’s graceful, quiet – and the cherry on the top is the stop-start energy saving function. This system turns off the engine when the car is at rest, if the gear selector lever is in neutral and your foot is off the clutch pedal. It then instantly turns the engine back on when the clutch pedal is depressed – all the while functioning quietly, conveniently, and quickly.
The sudden silence from the motor while you’re sitting at a robot is disconcerting. But it turns on instantly when you touch the pedal again. Amazing. Think of all the juice you’re saving, and the reduction in emissions. (Audi’s quoted fuel consumption figures are, combined cycle: 3,9-5,3litres per 100km, CO2 emissions, combined: 103-124g/km).
The sporty 1.4T engine produces 90kW and has been designed with a high top speed and good fuel consumption values in mind. It powers the A1 up to 203km/h (torque: 200Nm at 1 500rpm). By the way, Audi is one of the first manufacturers to combine the S-Tronic with the start-stop system. Both systems are synchronised with each other; the A1 thus uses a whole lot less fuel that you’d expect.
What you need to know before rushing out and slapping down your deposit on the lower priced 1.2T FSI, though, is that there are huge cost additions for extras like Xenon Plus headlights (includes headlight washers, LED daytime running lights, LED tail lights and auto headlight range adjustment): these would add a whopping R7 000 to your bill. Park distance control, rear, would be another R3 300, and Milano leather seat covering another R14 000.
But what the heck! I’d throw caution to the wind and blow my money on the top of the range 136kW A1 1.4T FSI that sprints from a standstill to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds and keeps accelerating up to 227km/h. The spontaneous responsiveness and excellent pulling power of the 136kW engine is thanks to 250Nm of torque and the combination of supercharger and turbocharger.
What a blast! What a car! – Peta Lee