Audi's
pint-sized A1 Sportback has received the soft-roader treatment,
although it hasn't been given the Allroad designation like the
automaker's other
soft-roaders but rather the new moniker Citycarver.
As the name suggests, the A1 Citycarver is at home in the
city, but if buyers what to carve out their own path on country roads or a
little rough terrain, they can do that too. This is due to the A1 Citycarver's
2.0 inches of extra ground clearance brought about by a combination of raised
suspension and taller wheels (starting at 16 inches in diameter).
The A1 Citycarver's exterior has also been enhanced to
provide the vehicle with underbody protection when the roads get rough. You'll
notice the steel-colored elements front and rear, plus plastic wheel arch
covers and chunky side rocker panels. The grille has also been given an
octagonal shape to match the design used on Audi's SUVs.
The color palette for the A1 Citycarver includes nine
exterior colors and Audi offers a contrast roof in either Mythos black metallic
or Manhattan gray metallic. A sporty S Line package can also be added. It
brings a roof-mounted spoiler, larger wheels, and a few other extras.
Audi hasn't released full details on the mechanicals but
said a drive mode selector will be available individually or via a Dynamic
package that also adds adjustable dampers for the suspension. We also know that
the most powerful engine in the current A1 range is a 2.0-liter turbocharged
inline-4 with 200 horsepower, and drive is to the front wheels only across the
range.
All A1 models feature a 10.25-inch digital instrument
cluster plus a second digital screen for the infotainment, with this second
screen measuring 10.1 inches with the top-of-the-line MMI Navigation Plus
infotainment system. Controls can be made via the screen, steering wheel
buttons or natural-speak voice activation.
Several advanced electronic driver assist features are
fitted in the A1 Citycarver, either standard or available. The list includes
adaptive cruise control, collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist
detection, lane departure warning, and park assist.
Audi has zero plans to sell any A1 variants in the United
States, so don't look for the new A1 Citycarver at your local Audi dealership.
In other markets, sales commence this fall.
by Viknesh Vijayenthiran
http://www.boscheuropean.com
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