Audi teases new A1 interior

AUDI has taken to social media to reveal the first teaser for its all-new, second-generation A1 light hatch, showing the dashboard ahead of a likely reveal in the coming weeks.

The short teaser video gives a glimpse of the new A1’s dashboard, which has removed the old tablet-style multimedia screen in favour of a larger touchscreen embedded neatly into the dash.

In the stop-motion video, the occupant draws the word ‘Barcelona’ onto the touchscreen, suggesting the reveal of the model will take place in Barcelona, Spain.

Parent company Volkswagen Group has confirmed that the new A1 will be manufactured at a plant in Mantorell, Spain, which already produces the mechanically related Seat Ibiza.

The shot of the touchscreen also shows the multimedia interface sporting a ‘G’ emblem that matches Google’s logo, suggesting that a production version of the tech giant’s infotainment system is ready for production.

Audi’s partnership with Google on vehicle multimedia systems was announced in May 2017, and it appears as though the A1 will be the first production model to implement the new interface.

The interface shows a list of nearby restaurants and petrol stations, while it is unknown whether users will be able to free-draw on the screen, or if the ‘Barcelona’ lettering was done post-production.

An updated climate control system sits underneath the touchscreen, with a clean and typically Audi design consisting of a mix of buttons, dials and a screen. A heated seat button is also present.

Trim elements include brushed metal in a tile-like pattern, and funky colours surrounding the air-conditioning vents, possible mirroring the exterior colour of the vehicle.

The A1 will miss out on the dual-screen layout of the next-gen A6 and A7 large cars, however it will gain the virtual cockpit digital instrument cluster seen on a bevy of Volkswagen Group models.

No details have emerged regarding the powertrains to be used in the new A1, however sharing engines with the sixth-generation Volkswagen Polo seems likely.

The Polo employs a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine offered in two states of tune – 70kW/175Nm and 85kW/200Nm. A 110kW 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit is also a potential donor engine for the A1.

If Audi wishes to retain the S1 model in the new generation, a 147kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbo-four to be shared with the Polo GTI could be suitable engine, but it would fall short of the current model’s 170kW/370Nm tune..

The current A1 first arrived in Australia in late 2010, with a mid-life update arriving in 2015.

Through the first five months of 2018 Audi has recorded 461 sales of the A1, representing an 11.5 per cent drop over the same period last year.

It sits second in the premium light-car segment behind the Mini Hatch (912) and ahead of the Mini Clubman (207), Citroen C3 (56) and Peugeot 208 (55).

GoAuto has contacted Audi Australia for local timing.