Filed under: Videos, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury

You see that look on Justin Timberlake’s face? It’s called Acting - yes, italicized and with a capital “A” - and you need to get ready to see it like you’ve never seen it before. Timberlake is bringing his best Stanislavski chops to episode two of Audi‘s short film series for the A1, The Next Big Thing. There are plenty more chases, guns, and Dania Ramirez to follow up from episode one, and the plot and everything else is getting thick as Vermont maple. So don’t waste any more time - follow the jump and check it out.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Video: Timberlake angles for Oscar with episode 2 of Audi A1 series

Video: Timberlake angles for Oscar with episode 2 of Audi A1 series originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 May 2026 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Audi, Rumormill

With its lightweight aluminum spaceframe and miniature luxury aspirations, the first generation Audi A2 was a vehicle a bit ahead of its time. That would make the little Audi a revolutionary vehicle were it not for the fact that customers weren’t all that interested with the price premium that comes with expensive spaceframe technology, and it could be argued that the A2 wasn’t all that attractive, either. See above and decide for yourselves.

In any case, Autocar reports that the four-ringed automaker will make a second go at the A2 in 2012, but this time the innovative and expensive spaceframe won’t be part of the package. The British site claims that the next A2 will inherit a version of the traditional steel unibody layout from the A1, giving Audi more cost leverage when competing with the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the small front drive near-lux segment.

Audi chairman Rupert Stadler reportedly stated that an EV variant is a possibility for the upcoming A2, with hardware not unlike that of the A1 e-tron concept. Regardless of the variant of A2 Audi is considering, we’re not too hopeful that the little German will ever make its way Stateside.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Audi A2 coming back in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 May 2026 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Budget, Europe, Hatchback, Audi, Celebrities, Luxury

When Audi first announced it would be relying on the talents of Justin Timberlake to push the company’s new A1, we were a little skeptical. At first, it looked like JT was to do little more than stand on stage and look pretty next to the pint-sized hatch, but it appears the four-rings has other plans in mind, including a new action driving series starring none other than the singer-turned actor.

If you’re thinking a bunch of star-packed mini-movies sponsored by a German automaker sounds more than a little familiar, it should. BMW followed the same recipe with Clive Owen in The Hire way back in 2001 and 2002. The result was a total of eight short films that remain some of our favorite time-wasters to this day. What can we say? You can’t have James Brown drag race the devil for his soul and not be a winner.

From what we can tell from the short trailer, Audi’s effort looks to have all the right ingredients. There’s gun fire, car chases, tire smoke, good music and, of course, a hot antagonist (Dania Ramirez). Throw in any semblance of plot, and you’ve already got 9/10ths of a Michael Bay masterpiece. Sign us up. You can hit the jump to see the trailer before the action begins next month.

Continue reading Video: Audi and Justin Timberlake show off The Next Big Thing

Video: Audi and Justin Timberlake show off The Next Big Thing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Apr 2026 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Videos, Audi

Proficiency is a wonderful thing to see in any category - we can even watch a great lawn bowler do his thing for a minute or two. So, when it’s something closer to our interests, like Audis and Photoshopping, we can hang in a little longer. What you see here isn’t an Audi S1 - just an A1 made to look like one. Highly sped up, it takes a few minutes to make this happen. It will probably take Audi a little longer, but make no mistake, we hope they’re watching. Follow the jump to watch the transformation unfold on video.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: How to transform an Audi A1 into an S1

Video: How to transform an Audi A1 into an S1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Mar 2026 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hatchback, Audi, Rumormill, Electric

Seeing the Audi A1 and A1 e-tron concept at this year’s Geneva Motor Show provides proof that the quad-ring automaker is putting a much larger focus on its small car offerings. With that in mind, new rumors are cropping up about a possible successor to the A2 - the quirky little hatch that never came to the U.S. and only had minor success in Europe.

“There’s clearly room for another product and another concept between the A3 and A1,” Audi CEO Rupert Stadler told AutoWeek during the Geneva Motor Show. The new A2 would likely be A1-based and use an electric powertrain, possibly sourced from the A1 e-tron concept. European media has reported that the A2 successor is expected to debut by 2014, and no word has been given about a possible U.S.-spec version. However, with Audi keeping the A1 away from American soil, it’s likely that the A2 would be a Europe-only affair, as well.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: Audi working on successor to A2? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2026 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Audi

The not-for-U.S. (at least not for now) Audi A1 just made its public debut at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, and we’re eager to see how the new hatch stacks up to the likes of the much-loved Mini Cooper. We’re especially fond of this S Line model, which gives the A1 a much more aggressive appearance and tweaks the hatch’s dynamics ever so slightly.

The S Line kit is made up of two separate packages. The exterior package adds a larger roof spoiler, a revised front bumper with side air vents, more chiseled sill tops and a new rear bumper with an integrated diffuser. Beyond the host of exterior changes, the S Line sport package adds a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel, a sport suspension, and a choice of either 17- or 18-inch alloys. In all, the whole S Line treatment looks great and gives us more reason to lust after the A1. Click through our gallery to see dozens of high-res shots of the A1 in its hot hatch-like S Line guise.

[Source: Audi via Carscoop]

Pics Aplenty: 2011 Audi A1 S Line in the color of lust originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2026 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No, Wankel is not really a verb. At least, not that we know of. But it is the last name of the man who designed the rotary engine, and we think our man Felix would be more than pleased with the latest application of his barrel-shaped internal combustion powerplant. In case you missed it before, that would be as the range-extender buried inside Audi‘s new A1 e-tron electric vehicle, which is currently on display at the Geneva Motor Show.

As we told you before, Audi’s smallest e-tron features a 12-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery pack that feeds a steady stream of electrons to a front-mounted electric motor with 102 peak horsepower. The aforementioned Wankel rotary engine features one lone rotor, displaces 254cc and sits just aft of the battery pack under the rear seat. Why a Wankel? Audi says the complete package weighs in at just 154 pounds and puts out a nice, steady stream of power at a constant 5,000 RPM.

Filed under: Budget, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Audi, Diesel

We’ve just returned from Audi‘s press conference here at the Geneva Motor Show, where Justin Timberlake has laid claim to one of the first A1 hatchbacks that comes off the line. Funny thing is, even with his undoubtedly massive bank accounts, the pop star won’t be able to get one - at least not to park in front of any of his U.S. cribs. That’s because Audi has announced that the entertaining-looking three-door isn’t headed to the States. Given how the A3 has festered in darkened showroom corners in the American market, we can’t exactly blame them for not importing an even smaller hatchback, but somehow we think this Mini Cooper-fighter might just find a market where the frumpier, more conventional A3 has stalled.

Available in Europe with four turbocharged, direct-injected engines (two TDI diesels, two gasoline), the A1 will be available with a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic gearbox with optional paddle shifters. Thanks to standard start-stop and energy recuperation among other fuel-saving tricks, the A1 is estimated to reach between 44 miles-per-U.S.-gallon and 62 mpg on the European Cycle.

Audi is also showing an electrified concept version of the A1 as the latest in its e-tron family. Packing a t-shaped lithium-ion battery and a single-rotor Wankel rotary IC engine(!) along with a few external cues to hint at its extended-range hybrid technology, it also drew more than a few eyeballs.

Interestingly, Audi’s press materials (available after the jump) make no mention of the availability of Quattro all-wheel drive. Whether the option will come later remains to be seen, but for now, the A1 picks up where the not-for-U.S. A2 left off.

Photos by Chris Paukert and Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Geneva 2010: Audi A1 to hatch jealousy in the eyes of Americans

Geneva 2010: Audi A1 to hatch jealousy in the eyes of Americans originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2026 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi, Electric

After teasing us with a few goodies yesterday, Audi has just released technical details on its new A1 e-tron concept that debuts later today at the Geneva Motor Show. As we already knew, the A1 uses an extended range electric architecture like the Chevrolet Volt, but with a compact and power-dense Wankel rotary engine/generator to keep the battery alive after power from the grid is depleted. The diagrams released by Audi show that the Wankel is mounted in the car’s rear behind the T-shaped battery pack that sits mostly under the rear seat.

The lithium ion battery pack has a capacity of 12 kilowatt-hours, which is claimed to provide about 30 miles of range on a charge. Unlike the 1,000+ pound pack in the original e-tron concept, this unit weighs in at just 330 pounds. The electric motor provides a standard output of 45 kW or 61 horsepower, though peak power of 75 kW or 102 hp is available in short bursts and keeps the car’s 0-62 mile-per-hour time around 10 seconds. The motor and all of the power electronics reside in the car’s front where the internal combustion powerplant of a conventional A1 would normally be found.

The Wankel weighs in at just 154 lbs and displaces just 254 cc of volume in its single rotor. The whole unit is small enough to sit below the cargo floor of the A1. Running at a constant 5,000 rpm, the rotary motor can extend the A1 e-tron’s range to 130 miles. Why not longer? The fuel tank holds only 3.17 gallons. With the Wankel running, Audi says the A1 e-tron will return about 124 miles per gallon U.S.

Of historical note, the first ever production car with a Wankel rotary engine was introduced by NSU back in 1964. NSU later merged with Auto Union, which also included Audi, the sole surviving brand of the group.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi A1 e-tron runs like Volt, advances ER-EV concept

Audi A1 e-tron runs like Volt, advances ER-EV concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Mar 2026 23:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi, Electric

Audi still hasn’t released any images of its new electric A1 e-tron concept, but it has revealed some details of the car. Unlike the two previous e-tron sports car concepts that were both pure battery electric models, this one is a range-extended EV. Like the Chevrolet Volt, the A1 e-tron uses a smaller battery pack that allows it to go up to 31 miles on a single charge with no emissions.

Once the battery is depleted, an internal combustion engine kicks in to drive a 15-kilowatt generator and keep the A1 going. However, unlike the Volt or Fisker Karma, the A1 is using a single-rotor Wankel engine to drive the generator. While Wankels are not renowned for their fuel efficiency (much the opposite in fact), in this application it could work well thanks to its high power density.

The range with the Wankel running is bumped up by another 124 miles to a total of 155. With only a 15kW generator available to sustain the battery, it will be interesting to see how much performance is degraded in that mode. Audi claims the A1 e-tron achieves 123.8 miles per gallon (U.S.) on the draft EU standard for ER-EVs. We should have more details tomorrow, so stay tuned.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: Audi A1 e-tron is extended-range EV with Wankel rotary generator

Geneva Preview: Audi A1 e-tron is extended-range EV with Wankel rotary generator originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Mar 2026 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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