Baby Audi’s a Mini marvel

Ultra-efficient city car takes firm into new territory – and could be the true spiritual successor to the Mini!

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.

It will be closely followed by a full range of E-badged models over the next five years. And with a hybrid version of the A1 due shortly after the standard supermini’s 2010 launch, Audi is clearly readying itself for an assault on the eco-friendly small-car market.

However, despite its diminutive size, the E1 will remain a premium product that fits in with the brand. Although its proportions are reminiscent of those of the VW up!, the familiar mesh-styled grille, short overhangs and huge front badge make the electric three-door instantly recognisable as an Audi. Futuristic front and rear LED light clusters, large alloys and a sharply rising waistline that meets a neatly kicked-up C-pillar complete the E1’s look.

Inside, buyers can anticipate more of the same, with a cabin that boasts the usual premium levels of material quality but with a more creative design. As previewed on the A1, the E1 will get a development of Audi’s new mobile device – essentially a hand-held portable sat-nav, phone and MP3 player with touchscreen display. The gadget replaces the key and plugs into the centre console.

The E1 will be packaged similarly to Toyota’s iQ, which means customers can expect a 2+1 layout with plenty of room up front and enough space in the back for luggage or one small passenger.

A variety of engines will be offered, although the star of the show will be an electric powerplant. It incorporates lightweight lithium-polymer batteries and a punchy electric motor driving the front wheels.

So the small, agile car will be ideal for city motoring, delivering 0-60mph in around 10 seconds. And with a full charge providing enough energy to travel up to 100 miles helped by regenerative braking, the plug-in machine will have real all-round ability.

In addition to the electric variant, there will be petrol and diesel versions, using new 600cc two-cylinder turbo units. These will aim to offer sub-100g/km CO2 emissions and economy of 94mpg. A 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol is under consideration, too.

The E1 will be built at VW’s plant in Bratislava, Slovakia, alongside the up! as well as Skoda and SEAT variants. Audi’s version will carry a price tag of around £12,000, which will pitch it against rivals such as Smart’s electric ForTwo and Fiat’s forthcoming hybrid 500.

The electric E1 will be eligible for a Government grant worth up to £5,000 which will be made available to all buyers of electric cars and hybrids from 2011.

Volkswagen Polo

VW supermini set to get a lot more stylish thanks to Scirocco inspired design.

The Polo is getting a ‘fresher’ flavour! VW’s fifth-generation supermini will go on sale next year with a more upmarket look – and a front end which has been given ‘the Scirocco treatment’.

The car’s nose reflects the styling of VW’s sleek coupé – and inside, there is a classier cabin. A range of new engines includes hi-tech, low-emission diesels and super-turbo petrol powerplants.

As you can see from our pictures, produced using insider information, the Polo draws on the next Golf and Scirocco, dropping the large chrome grille seen on recent VWs for a simpler design with twin horizontal air intakes and angled headlights. It’s a cleaner look all-round, with uncluttered flanks, neat tail-lamps and a purposeful stance.

Under the skin, the Polo gets the new PQ25 small car platform – first used by the latest SEAT Ibiza. This means a bigger cabin, even though the dimensions are similar to the current model’s.

Quality will improve, as VW bids to address criticism over falling standards. It promises the Polo will be the best-built car in its class, with a Scirocco-style dash and soft-touch materials.

The generous kit tally will include an MP3 player input and Bluetooth connectivity on most models. Plus, the Polo could get the same sat-nav docking port as the Ibiza – this allows portable, hand-held units to be plugged into the dash.

While the car is unlikely to match the likes of Ford’s next Fiesta for driver fun, the steering will be improved and the ride made more compliant. Engine highlights will include 1.4 and 1.6-litre FSI direct-injection petrol units, plus new TDI turbodiesels.

The Polo will also make use of VW’s 1.4-litre supercharged and turbocharged TSI motor, available in a 138bhp ‘warm hatch’ and a 168bhp GTI variant. There will be a new Bluemotion model, too – this promises to emit less than 100g/km of CO2 and return 75mpg economy.

The firm’s seven-speed DSG twin-clutch box should appear as an option throughout the range. As well as three and five-doors, there will be a coupé-cabrio, inspired by the Karmann-built drop-top seen at 2007’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

In addition, buyers get the option of a four-wheel-drive SUV variant to replace the Dune – as we revealed in Issue 1,018 – and a compact MPV. These models won’t appear until at least 2010, while the hatch arrives next year, starting from around £9,000.

In a related story, VW has revealed more about its future by unveiling its first-ever plug-in hybrid. The Golf-based Twin Drive can run for up to 30 miles solely on battery power thanks to an 82bhp electric motor. When it runs out of energy, a 122bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel takes over.

It gets stop-start technology, regenerative braking and hits a top speed of about 75mph. Energy comes from lithium-ion batteries that can be plugged into a household socket.

While there are currently no plans to put the Twin Drive into production, some of its features are set to debut on VW models within the next two years.