2010 Audi A1 Preview

The minicar segment is about to explode, with new models planned from most of the major carmakers including, for the first time, premium labels such as Audi, which is planning to launch the new A1 hatch in 2009. A concept version of the car will be displayed at next month’s Tokyo Motor Show complete with a hybrid drivetrain. These new renderings give us an accurate look at what to expect, revealing designers are going with conventional hatchback styling and Audi’s familiar oversized grille.

The A1 won’t be a niche model. Audi management is hoping to sell more than 100,000 units per year and will likely add a ’shooting brake’ mini-estate and cabrio to its lineup. Audi is also rumored to be working on a mini SUV labeled the Q1, which you can see a preview of by clicking here. In addition to the mild hybrid version, Audi will also build cars equipped with more conventional TSI and FSI petrol engines as well as its frugal TDI diesels displacing 1.4 and 1.6L.

The car will be built on a new platform that will also spawn the next-gen VW Polo as well as allow engineers to add quattro AWD for a low-volume performance model. The new platform also means engineers may add a new low cost dual-clutch transmission with seven gears in total. Unlike the production version of the VW up! concept, the Audi A1 won’t be cheap and is expected to have a price tag of around €20,000. By contrast, VW’s minicar is expected to cost close to €8,000.

Source: motorauthority

Mitsubishi Evo X before Tokyo Auto Show

With so many cars lined up for their first public unveiling’s to occur in the final auto shows of the season the buzz competition is tight. While we spend months covering speculations, renderings and masked test mules any lull in that coverage can cause a trail to grow cold. So just in time to keep interest high and curiosity peeked an official brochure of the new Mitsubishi Evo X has been leaked out via a Lancer Forum and is building the buzz anew for the new car.

The brochure itself is in Japanese so some of the details will require translation. However with any familiarity with auto brochures the visual story and stimulation from the leaked brochure develops the Evo X into quite an interesting action packed-drama. Increasing the action are the reports of the horsepower and performance within.

Official performance numbers as translated over at the MotorAuthority indicate the new Mitsubishi Evo X will be producing 276-hp at 6,500-rpm and 311 ft. lbs. of torque at 3,500-rpm. However with that significant horsepower increase from previous models the Evo X may suffer some drag from the increased weight it will be carrying. According to the forums that will be an extra 100-150 kg in heavy built in baggage. Whether the weight is from the powerful engine or increased safety features is difficult to speculate at this time.

What is fairly easy to speculate at this time is the aggressive nature of the shell of the Evo X. Mitsubishi now has a street sedan that will certainly turn heads (some away, while others toward it). As compared to other Lancer’s the Evo X is certainly grabbing my attention. It is a welcomed break from the bleak styling invoked in most other sedans (that are not in Australia).

Check back for more updates on the Mitsubishi Evo X as the Tokyo Auto Show gets under way in October. Below are a few more photos from the brochure. To view the full brochure follow the link at the bottom of the page to the LancerRegister.

Source: ridelust