Five-door Audi A1 Sportback now available in Malaysia
Having just launched the A6 Hybrid and quickly selling out its entire allocation for 2013, local Audi distributors Euromobil are now turning their attention slightly further down the food chain at the A1, which is now offered with a more practical five-door Sportback variant.
Deliveries are available immediately, and for a limited time, Euromobil is offering the A1 Sportback 1.4 TFSI at an introductory price of RM179,900 OTR without insurance, identical to the standard three-door variant, for a limited time. Later takers will have to fork out RM185,000 instead.
Compared to the three-door A1, the five-door A1 Sportback has an identical luggage capacity of 270 litres which can be extended to 920 litres with the rear seat backs down, and Audi has taken deliberate care to ensure that the adjustable head rests do not impede the seats’ folding motion when in place.
Besides enabling more convenient access to the rear seats with two extra doors, the A1 Sportback legally accommodates three at the back with full three-point seat belts for all. The three-door A1, in contrast, was a strict four-seater. By stretching the A1 Sportback 6mm taller and 6mm wider than its three-door sibling, Audi was able to liberate additional head and shoulder room of 11mm and 13mm respectively for the rear passengers.
Only one engine is currently offered and it is the single turbo 1.4 TFSI engine sending 122hp and 200Nm to the front wheels via the VW Group’s 7-speed DSG transmission (S-Tronic in Audi-speak). This setup propels the A1 Sportback from rest to 100kph in 9.0 seconds with a top speed of 203kph. Fuel consumption and emissions are rated at 5.3 l/100km and 122 g/km respectively, based on European test cycles.
Standard audio setup on offer is the Audi Concert audio system with a retractable 6.5-inch monitor and SD card reader although buyers are offered with a few upgrading options here that includes navigation, Bluetooth car phone online system, and a 14-speaker 465W Bose surround sound system.
Externally, the options list for the A1 Sportback extends beyond the three-door version by offering customers the possibility to choose one of three contrasting colours not only for the roof line as in the three-door, but also for the entire roof itself as well as, in S line models. The Sportback will also expand on the eleven paint colours available for the three door with a twelfth – Samoa Orange – that will be available exclusively for the new five-door.
Interested customers can test drive the new A1 Sportback at selected Euromobil showrooms.
Picture: Official Audi release.
