I don't know if there is anything on the Auto Express website yet because
my information came from the digital subscription of AE on my iPad. The
printed version didn't arrive today but that's not unusual.
Here's the rear view, again
courtesy of Auto Express. I like the tailgate and lights treatment but no so sure about the strange full-width bar running along underneath the number plate. That could be the justification for a major price hike over the bread and butter, common or garden, VW up!?
I see that the 2015 Audi A0 has reverted to the 2013 model aerial rather than the stubby 2014 version!
Here's the Auto Express article as written by Luke Madden. Thank you again Auto Express.
"AUDI is working on its own version of the Volkswagen up!, Auto Express has
learned. Our exclusive images show how the car might look, and it could arrive
as soon as 2015.
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CEO Rupert Stadler has said he wants such a model by the second half of the
decade. And should the new entry-level car get the green light, it would share
most of its tech with the up!, SEAT Mii and Skoda Citigo, while adding a
distinctive look and a more premium interior.
At
present, the VW, SEAT and Skoda use the VW Group's New Small Family (NSF)
platform, and all are built at VW's plant in Bratislava, Slovakia. The new Audi
""“ which would sit below the A1 in the range and could be badged A0 ""“ would sit
on the same platform and be assembled on the same line.
However,
to ensure the car could command a price premium over the up! ""“ it'd be expected
to start at £11,500 ""“ it'll get a look all of its own. This will include
hi-tech headlamps and LED tail-lights, Audi's trademark trapezoidal grille and
a range of alloy wheel options.
There'd
be an upmarket makeover inside, too, with abetter-integrated infotainment
system, leather trim and improved plastics to justify a higher price than the
up!, which starts at £8,185.
The
Audi would come with the 109bhp 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine that was used in
the up! GT concept, rather than the 59bhp or 74bhp engines in the current cars.
And
it would also give the aborted up! GT a chance to come to market ""“ albeit not
as a VW. The concept was a pet project of then VW R&D boss, Dr Ulrich
Hackenberg, who's since moved to Audi to replace previous tech chief Wolfgang
Dürheimer.
In
addition, the baby Audi is set to be offered with an all-electric drivetrain
taken from the e-up! (hence the lack of tailpipes in our illustrations). It
could even get the VW XL1's diesel-electric hybrid set-up."
I'll leave you all to argue about it!!
Edited by: Robbyrook