After watching from the sidelines for years as arch-rival BMW found success with the Mini brand, Audi is finally gearing up to jump into the scrum with the new A1. But unlike the Mini One (which slots below the Cooper in overseas markets), Audi doesn’t intend to target the budget market. Instead, the new A1 will take aim directly at the Mini Cooper.
Don’t expect to see any engine badges on the back of the four-ringed Polo, however, as Audi reportedly intends on keeping the displacement on the A1 hidden. An S1 is tipped to be in the works, but short of that the only thing onlookers will have to distinguish one engine model from another is the exhaust note. Expect the pre-production A1 – previewed by the Metroproject and A1 Sportback concepts – to debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show with sales beginning later next year.