Images of the 2019 Audi A1 have leaked online before its scheduled reveal, showing a feisty compact premium hatch sporting Audi’s latest design language.
German automotive publication AutoBild managed to get hold of the early images. The 2019 Audi A1 migrates from the old PQ25 platform of its predecessor and onto the MQB matrix that underpins so many other Volkswagen and Audi vehicles, from the Golf, to the Passat as well as the Q2 and TT.
Most importantly for driving enthusiasts, it’s set to form the basis for an S1 all-wheel drive supermini, which presently makes 170kW through all four wheels and has a top speed of 255km/h. The successor could borrow technology from the Golf R and make over 200kW. A hi-po RS 1 might also be on the way.
Even the non S-model revealed here should be massively improved in the driving fun department, if any other Volkswagen Group product to migrate to the MQB is any indication. Increased rigidity, track width, better steering and more efficient engines are all but a given, but we will have to wait for more details at the launch, which may be brought forward by this leak.
From a visual point of view, the 2019 A1 has a lot more going on than before, with far more aggression, creases and sharp lines. The new interior appears more spacious and adorned with finer materials than ever before, with many elements from the latest A6, A8 and A7, including the Virtual Cockpit digital instrument panel, a dash that is angled towards the driver, a large infotainment display and a vent which spans the entire length of the front passenger side of the dashboard. An earlier teaser by Audi revealed the ability to handwrite messages on the infotainment screen as well.
According to AutoBild, the overall length grows by 76mm, which affords 40mm more legroom and 50 litres of additional boot space. The 2019 Audi A1 should land locally next year. What is your verdict on the new car are you a fan of the styling? Or do you prefer the old one? Let us know in the comments section below.
