Auto News – Daily Last Auto News

Last Auto account – Baby Audi’s a Mini curiosity Ultra-efficient city-limits car takes close into new area â?? and could be the accurate airy almsman to the Mini!

IT’s the all-new Audi that claims to aces up area the aboriginal Mini larboard off! This is the E1 – an ultra-efficient city-limits car from the German close and a archetypal which is getting hailed as a airy almsman to Alec Issigonis’ masterpiece.

Sharing its belvedere with VW’s accessible up!, the newcomer takes Audi durably into new territory. It’s advised to sit beneath the Polo-based A1 – due next year – as the access point into its archetypal line-up, and is aimed at the cast of the new Fiat Topolino and MINI Spirit (revealed in Issue 1,056). Signifying the barrage of a new beachcomber of hi-tech Audis, the E1 goes on auction in 2011 and will be the aboriginal car from the aggregation to abrasion the â??E’ tag.

It will be carefully followed by a abounding ambit of E-badged models over the next 5 years. And with a amalgam adaptation of the A1 due anon afterwards the accepted supermini’s 2010 launch, Audi is acutely basic itself for an advance on the eco-friendly small-car market.

However, admitting its diminutive size, the E1 will abide a exceptional artefact that fits in with the brand. Although its accommodation are evocative of those of the VW up!, the accustomed mesh-styled grille, abbreviate overhangs and huge foreground brand accomplish the electric three-door instantly recognisable as an Audi. Futuristic foreground and rear LED ablaze clusters, ample alloys and a acutely ascent waistline that meets a neatly kicked-up C-pillar complete the E1′s look.

Inside, buyers can ahead added of the same, with a berth that boasts the accepted exceptional levels of actual superior but with a added artistic design. As previewed on the A1, the E1 will get a development of Audi’s new adaptable accessory – about a hand-held carriageable sat-nav, buzz and MP3 amateur with touchscreen display. The apparatus replaces the key and plugs into the centre console.

The E1 will be packaged analogously to Toyota’s iQ, which agency barter can apprehend a 2+1 blueprint with affluence of allowance up foreground and abundant amplitude in the aback for baggage or one baby passenger.

A array of engines will be offered, although the brilliant of the appearance will be an electric powerplant. It incorporates failing lithium-polymer batteries and a befuddled electric motor active the foreground wheels.

So the small, active car will be ideal for city-limits motoring, carrying 0-60mph in about 10 seconds. And with a abounding allegation accouterment abundant activity to biking up to 100 afar helped by adorning braking, the constituent apparatus will accept absolute all-round ability.

In accession to the electric variant, there will be petrol and agent versions, application new 600cc two-cylinder turbo units. These will aim to action sub-100g/km CO2 emissions and abridgement of 94mpg. A 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol is beneath consideration, too.

The E1 will be congenital at VW’s bulb in Bratislava, Slovakia, alongside the up! as able-bodied as Skoda and SEAT variants. Audi’s adaptation will backpack a amount tag of about £12,000, which will angle it adjoin rivals such as Smart’s electric ForTwo and Fiat’s accessible amalgam 500.

The electric E1 will be acceptable for a Government admission account up to £5,000 which will be fabricated accessible to all buyers of electric cars and hybrids from 2011.