Audi will put its A1 concept car into production later this year after its launch at September’s Frankfurt motor show.
The Audi A1 was first seen as the three-door Metroproject Quattro in 2007 and a five-door sportback model was unveiled at last year’s Paris motor show.
The A1 will be built at Audi’s plant in Brussels. The factory’s manager Alfons Dintner confirmed in a recent interview that production is due to start in October, ahead of an on-sale date early in 2010.
The Brussels plant will undergo a five-week shutdown period this summer to retool and prepare for production of the three-door A1 to begin.
The styling of the production model should be toned down from the concept, so don’t expect to see the frameless doors and luxurious interior in dealer showrooms.
The A1 is set to make use of the VW Group’s new 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre TSI petrol engines; a 1.4-litre TDI should also feature. An S1 model and a convertible model are also said to be under consideration.
Production of the five-door Sportback model will follow the three-door; it should begin before the end of 2009.
An Audi UK spokesman didn't confirm that A1 production was set to officially begin this year, saying only pre-production models were to be built in 2009 ahead of the car reaching UK showrooms later in 2010.
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