New 2018 Audi A1 caught almost completely undisguised

Next-generation Audi A1 will arrive towards the end of the year, and we've spotted in the final stages of testing

A new, second-generation Audi A1 is en route and will be revealed later this year, but we've spied the new supermini in the hands of Audi engineers, almost completely undisguised.
Caught by our spy photographers undergoing hot weather testing in southern Europe, this A1 mule sheds plenty of camouflage. The new face is straight from Audi's latest design catalogue, with a wider, hexagonal grille seamlessly blending into squarer headlight units. This five-door model looks longer than before too, with more bodywork around the C-Pillar. Fresh taillights sit in the revised tailgate.

With plusher versions of the Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta on the market, the new A1 will need to be even more upmarket to keep its kudos as one of the classiest superminis. There's also the 2018 MINI Cooper to contend with, and the next generation DS 3 is due soon as well.
Though you can't tell just from the pictures, the Mk2 A1 will move on to the smallest version of the VW Group’s ubiquitous MQB platform, called A0. The switch in architecture also means that production of the A1 will transfer from Brussels in Belgium to SEAT’s Martorell plant in Barcelona, where the car will be built alongside the Ibiza and Arona.
The new platform will bring many benefits – the first being the ability to make the A1 larger than the current model. The wheelbase should expand around 90mm over the existing A1, and while the body is likely to grow by a tiny fraction of that, the extended wheelbase should bring benefits for rear passengers. Boot capacity will also rise slightly, potentially from the current car’s 270 litres to around 300 litres.

Our exclusive images of the new Audi A1 show how the car will look without the disguise, too. The spy shots show the larger grille and sportier-looking headlights, as well as big alloy wheels and sharper-looking taillights too.

2018 Audi A1 engine range

A new platform brings new engines, and the A1 range is likely to kick off with a re-engineered version of the current 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo, developing around 100bhp. With the new Polo and upcoming A1 sharing lots of mechanical DNA, Audi may also choose to offer the A1 with the VW Group’s new 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines – although the latter units are likely to appear first in the next A3. 

When the A1 does get the new 1.5-litre engines, their range of outputs – from 90bhp to 160bhp – should give Audi enough options for the entire line-up, with the exception of the S1 hot hatch.
There is also the possibility of Audi introducing a plug-in hybrid e-tron version of the A1. Back in 2012 it developed a concept featuring a three-cylinder turbo and electric motor. The technology is expensive, though, and if introduced it will push the A1’s price into new territory – possibly upwards of £25,000. However, it would give Audi a competitor for the BMW i3 – a car it can’t currently rival.
Audi never made a fully fledged RS version of the current A1, and with the car to be out of production soon it looks extremely unlikely to happen. With the next-generation model, however, there is a slight possibility. Audi has trademarked the RS 1 badge, suggesting that it is at least an option on the firm's table.

New Audi A1 interior and exterior design

Of course, a new model wouldn’t be complete without a new look. Our images give an idea of how the second-generation A1 will develop, with evolutionary rather than revolutionary changes. Expect sharper headlamps with a unique daytime running light signature either side of the latest company grille.
At the rear, wider tail-lights are likely to be inspired by the recently refreshed A3, with an integrated roof spoiler to aid aerodynamic efficiency and give the A1 a sportier look. Audi’s ‘scrolling indicators’ are set to be offered as an option across the range.

What is likely to be more intriguing to buyers is the raft of new tech inside. Audi’s 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit will make an appearance for the first time, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will also be introduced on an updated version of Audi’s MMI infotainment system. The firm may roll out a WiFi hotspot as well as it aims to rival the connectivity offered by the A1’s main rival, the MINI.