When an automaker releases a teaser like this, you can bet it will be light on details and laden with vague, inspired language.
But here we have an A1 designer himself, Jürgen Löffler, talking about the styling signatures of the new model.
Although we do get a look at an A1 model sitting on the design table, more importantly, we get a description of what will be a distinguishing design feature of the new A1. That is, it's shoulder line.
And this is how Audi explains it in the press release:
"...the shoulder line wraps completely around an Audi model like a clasp. It begins up front with the single-frame grille, extends over the front lights and the side to the tail lights and the rear hatch."
Löffler likens the look of the A1 to a sprinter's starting stance.
"This detail is best explained with reference to a track and field athlete. The more muscular and broader the shoulders of a 100-meter sprinter, the more solid his or her starting position," says Löffler, the man who designed the exterior of the A1.
Another design feature will be the color-contrasted roof arch which runs from the A-pillar to the top end corner of the car. Customers will be able to order it in different colors. Also, the windscreen on the A1 is more upright than on most Audi models, while the rear window comes with a distinct slant.
Engines expected to power the new compact include, on the petrol/gasoline side, a 1.2 liter with 86 hp, a 122 hp 1.4 liter, and a turbo 1.4 liter with 170 hp. Diesel offerings are likely also taken from VW's stable of powerplants, such as the 1.6 liter with 90 hp and the 2.0 liter TDI with 140 hp.
The A1 is scheduled to make its debut at the Geneva auto show in March. It is expected to go on sale later in the year.
Many more A1 teaser are expected in the coming days/weeks.
Audi A1: An all-around successful design
- New design: The shoulder line appears to clasp the A1
- The color-contrasted roof arch is an important distinguishing feature
Ingolstadt, January 18, 2010 - The new Audi A1 is dedicated to emotional design, as two details on the body make abundantly clear. First, the shoulder line, also known as the tornado line, has been very subtly redesigned so that for the first time it
encompasses the entire car. Second, the new color-contrasted roof arch gives the silhouette of the A1 an entirely new shape and is simultaneously a distinctive detail for customizing the car.
This is new: For the first time ever, the shoulder line wraps completely around an Audi model like a clasp. It begins up front with the single-frame grille, extends over the front lights and the side to the tail lights and the rear hatch. "The shoulder line is the most important design element of the A1. The clear separation between the front, side, and rear has been eliminated to produce a holistic sculpture," says Jürgen Löffler, exterior designer of the Audi A1.
"This detail is best explained with reference to a track and field athlete. The more muscular and broader the shoulders of a 100-meter sprinter, the more solid his or her starting position. The broad shoulders of the A1 likewise give it a powerful road stance." Another important design characteristic for the silhouette of the A1 is the color-contrasted roof arch, which begins in the A-pillar, runs above the side windows and ends at the rear of the car. "The contrasting roof arch traces the roofline of the A1 when viewed from the side. This is something new that we are doing here for the A1," saysLöffler.
"The windshield is a bit more upright; the rear window, on the other hand, is more inclined and flowing, giving the car a very sporty and dynamic appearance." The contrasting roof line is an important feature for customizing the A1. Customers will be able to order the roof arch in a variety of colors, regardless of the body color of the car.
