The 2019 Audi A1 Sportback is Ready to Rumble

The smallest Audi is bigger than ever, thanks to MQB A0, the platform it shares with the Volkswagen Polo. Now with more interior space—56 mm longer than its predecessor—the 2019 Audi A1 Sportback enjoys additional liters of boot and millimeters of legroom that make the rear seats just as comfortable as the front. The added spaciousness, coupled with a wide and attractive color selection, promises that the 2019 Audi A1 Sportback is one small car that packs a lot of fun.

The new platform, which rests on MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear, is made up of 27 percent composite material. Infused with better aerodynamics, turbocharged direct engines, plus advanced transmissions, the A1 manages to slice through the air like a hot knife through butter. Though its fuel economy numbers aren’t out yet, they are expected to be significantly better than most of the cars in its class.

Buyers have the option to decide between basic suspension and a tauter sport suspension. Dynamic packages are separately configured for every engine version, of which there are three—a 1.0 liter turbo fuel stratified injection (TFSI) gas engine with S tronic transmission, a 1.6 liter turbocharged direct injection (TDI) diesel mated to a five-speed, and another 1.6 liter TDI engine married to an S tronic gearbox.

Speaking of sporty, Audi proudly proclaims that the A1 has "the sportiest interior in the compact class," and the driver-focused, emotive and customizable design speaks for itself. The 10.1-inch infotainment screen and 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster integrate with the overall design perfectly, and color accents around the stick shift, around the AC vents, and behind the door levers only to serve to make the cabin more alluring. Meanwhile the intuitive Audi multi-media interface (MMI) operating system lets drivers manage navigation, entertainment, AC, lighting, and even ride dynamics with ease.

For the first time for the A1, Audi now lets A1 buyers "combine exterior and interior lines however they like." There are three modular line options available for the exterior: basic, advanced, or S line, which come in different grilles, "implied side air inlets," bottom sections of both bumpers, diffusers and rear spoilers. The black styling package sets additional accents including "Interior advanced," "Interior design selection," and "Interior S line."

As expected from the Ingolstadt-based luxury car maker, when Audi says standard safety features, you can bet most cars in its class probably don't have them. Here, you've got advanced systems such as pre-sense front, lane departure warning, speed limiter, and adaptive speed assist. The parking system comprises front and rear ultrasonic sensors along with a reversing camera to steer the A1 Sportback parallel and horizontally into parking spaces.

The new Audi A1 Sportback will be available starting summer 2018. For more information about Audi’s latest offering, visit the Audi Media Center.