Audi's new green mini and the reborn Urquattro..

[Tommi]

Source: Auto Express

Some of you may remember the Volkswagen Up! concept that was revealed last year..

Well here it is Audi form, the E1.

IT’s the all-new Audi that claims to pick up where the original Mini left off! This is the E1 – an ultra-efficient city car from the German firm and a model which is being hailed as a spiritual successor to Alec Issigonis’ masterpiece.

Sharing its platform with VW’s forthcoming up!, the newcomer takes Audi firmly into new territory. It’s designed to sit below the Polo-based A1 – due next year – as the entry point into its model line-up, and is aimed at the likes of the new Fiat Topolino and MINI Spirit (revealed in Issue 1,056). Signifying the launch of a new wave of hi-tech Audis, the E1 goes on sale in 2011 and will be the first car from the company to wear the ‘E’ tag.

Full Story....

Fans of fast Audis are in for a treat, as sources have revealed that an even more hardcore version of the tyre-smoking RS5 is on the way. No four-ringed model has ever matched the legendary status of the ‘Ur-Quattro’ from 1985, and Audi is looking to evoke its memory with a tougher and lighter A5 coupé.

Reported to be badged the A5 quattro Sport, it will use Audi’s new 3.0-litre supercharged V6, turned up to 425bhp. This would place it between the S5 and RS5. But in reality, extra bonnet vents, an aggressive bodykit and stripped-out cabin will make it the ultimate Audi performance saloon when it arrives in 2012.

 

[dylansan]

I feel like these two could be in a sitcom.

 

[Sniffs]

yeah, The Patty Duke Show, bosom buddies, that one with that wacky comedian pretending to be from eastern Europe, Mork and Mindy....

 

[Jondot]

IT’s the all-new Audi that claims to pick up where the original Mini left off! This is the E1 – an ultra-efficient city car from the German firm and a model which is being hailed as a spiritual successor to Alec Issigonis’ masterpiece.

Um... no. It may be small, but I'd bet money that the price tag won't be. Comparatively speaking, anyway. As far as I'm concerned, these are the only successors to the original Mini:

But aside from that, I like it. But then I liked the Up!, so that's not surprising. I mean it looks rather like it's been driven into a wall, but at least it's not needlessly sticking out I suppose...

 

[Jim Prower]

RS5? Successor to the UrQuattro?! I think NOT! Thing looks nothing like the only Audi I still respect. That, and it's highly doubtful the thing'll win a World Rally Championship...

 

[Tornado]

Ignoring the "rallying heritage" stuff, if Audi badged the medium level performance A5 as quattro Sport, there would probably be a riot. I'm also confused as to how the car would actually fit into the A5 range (the name itself is confusing), based on what we have heard about the RS5 so far.

 

[homeforsummer]

Um... no. It may be small, but I'd bet money that the price tag won't be. Comparatively speaking, anyway. As far as I'm concerned, these are the only successors to the original Mini:

*Ka*

*Aygo*

But aside from that, I like it. But then I liked the Up!, so that's not surprising. I mean it looks rather like it's been driven into a wall, but at least it's not needlessly sticking out I suppose...

I agree absolutely, possibly adding the iQ to that list as essentially the Ka and Aygo/107/C1 didn't do anything new, they just did exactly what the Mini did whilst being more modern, wheras the iQ is a new take on the formula (if not when price is brought into the equation).

With regard to the Audi, I think it's hideous, and I normally quite like the way Audis look. The normal Audi features don't work on something that small - the A1 is a much better design. As is the Up!, for that matter. You'd have to be a real badge snob to get the Audi over the VW.

 

[Philly]

VAG: the next company to challenge GM at brand engineering.

 

[homeforsummer]

Do they not already? A Golf is already half a dozen Skodas, Audis and Seats, everything from an Octavia 1.6 to an Audi TT-RS. That's some pretty impressive platform useage, if not a simple badge swap...

 

[Picc84]

I love the styling of the new Quattro, I think it looks sweet. Although Im unclear about its purpose in their line?

 

[homeforsummer]

To extract money from those who are too snobbish to buy the VW version, when it's released

Or alternatively, those too blind to realise it looks like an angry pig. Angry because it has flu.

 

[Northstar]

To extract money from those who are too snobbish to buy the VW version, when it's released

Or alternatively, those too blind to realise it looks like an angry pig. Angry because it has flu.

I think it looks more like a Pug than a Pig. Either way it looks like they just smashed an Audi into a wall head on and just used that as the E1's front end.

 

[Philly]

Do they not already? A Golf is already half a dozen Skodas, Audis and Seats, everything from an Octavia 1.6 to an Audi TT-RS. That's some pretty impressive platform useage, if not a simple badge swap...

Oh, yeah. I know. I'm wondering how long until it comes back to bite them because they're trying to sell 8 of the same vehicle to the same customer.

Because, it's fine when the Audi and VW versions are pretty separate vehicles, even if they're on the same platform, but if they start making Audis little more than gussied-up VWs, they're going to have problems.

 

[homeforsummer]

I don't think they'll fall into that trap though. I don't think they would have even if GM hadn't made that mistake first.

 

[TheCracker]

I hope they're planning on cutting a foot from the A5's wheelbase if they go with the Quattro Sport moniker.

 

[homeforsummer]

It just amuses me that the car will apparently have a "stripped out cabin".

Really Audi?

Really?

Really?

Didn't think so.

I suspect the "stripped out cabin" will still contain the following things: Air conditioning, CD multichanger/MP3 stereo system, satnav, huge and not particularly light bucket seats, thick insulation, and a thick-rimmed multifunction steering wheel.

And I'd be most happy to eat my words if they do something more along the lines of the old Audi TT Quattro Sport, where they removed the back seats, fit a rear strut brace, proper bucket seats and removed a load of trim:

 

[Philly]

I don't think they'll fall into that trap though. I don't think they would have even if GM hadn't made that mistake first.

That is more or less true still. But you still have cars like the A3 that are pretty much gussied-up Golfs, and so when you throw the GTI and R models into the mix, the Audi and VW models compete with each other. I don't know how it is with the A1 and Polo over there, but I can't imagine there is that much wiggle room in the segment for all the VW trim levels to avoid competing with the Audis. Hell, they even have two supercars that are quite similar, and the 911 Turbo isn't that far off either performance- and price-wise.

The separation between the two is much better in the bigger vehicles though. And I also can't compare SEAT and Skoda with the VW offerings.

It just amuses me that the car will apparently have a "stripped out cabin".

It'll probably be a Mercedes style strip out. Still plenty of amenities to make you feel pampered, but with enough gone to make you think it's a serious performance version, without being stripped out enough to actually be the stripper track car that guys would want from their serious track car. I wonder if they'll even try and put satnav in there.

 

[homeforsummer]

Some of the past Seats have probably been the closest to the VW ranges - the old Polo/Ibiza and Lupo/Arosa in particular were very similar indeed, but the cars became more differentiated the bigger they got. The Golf Mk4/Leon mk1 were quite different, and ditto the Mk5/Mk2 Golf and Leon.

As for Skodas, they're quite different again, though the first generation Superb was basically identical to the Passat of the same time. What gets me is that the Skodas feel of higher quality than the Seats, which is odd as you'd expect the sporty brand (Seat) to still be plusher than the budget brand (Skoda). What is impressive is that VAG can make very similar cars feel very different - the Golf/Octavia/Leon/A3 is a good example of this, even in their previous variants which all had very similar interiors. The A3 and Leon basically had identical interiors (from a design point of view) yet the Audi still felt much more upmarket. I think even the Audis now are fairly distanced from the VW range they're largely based on. This is why I don't think they'll step on their own toes too often. Indeed, the brands appeal to very different customers.

 

[TheCracker]

You are not really stepping on toes, you're just offering more variety to potential VAG owners. VAG don't care if you buy an A3 or a Golf as long as you buy either over 1-series etc. It's the same with any of their other in-house segment 'rivals'.