Wednesday 15 September 2010

TWO MAJOR DEBUTS FOR AUDI AT PARIS 2010

Audi will reveal two major debuts at the 2010 Paris International Motor Show. The A7 Sportback will be the bigger one, so to speak, followed by the new S1 hatch. Following the A3 Sportback and A5 Sportback, Audi is increasing its footprint in this growing four-door coupe niche market. From our understanding there is still one more Sportback type that we can expect in the next couple of years. Nothing confirmed yet but our hunch has us thinking it will be the A1 Sportback.


Speaking of which, the S1 will be using a small 1.4-litre TFSI engine apparently making a good 132kW. While other motoring hacks aren’t quite impressed with this figure, it is worth noting that the S1’s chief rival, the MINI Cooper S, makes only 128kW. Also, remember that S products aren’t the one and be-all of the Audi range. There are still RS products. If they ever make an RS 1 it would compete against the MINI Cooper S John Cooper Works (155kW).

Drive for the S1 will be through the front wheels, a new thing for Audi. Usually S cars come standard with quattro AWD.

The A7 is a sporty bigger car with four doors and two rear seats, making it a coupe. First examples will sport Audi’s 3.0-litre supercharged V6 with over 245kW, a 3.0 TDI making over 180kW and over 550Nm, as well as a V8.

Look forward to seeing the new A1 and A7 ranges in Mzansi in early 2011.

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