It’s all a bit sexier inside too. There’s more of a driver focus in the layout and an all-digital new dash (standard on all versions, along with multifunction steering wheel). There’s more room and a larger boot as well as infotainment and driver assistance systems taken from the larger Audis.
The A1 also offers something the more expensive models do not: the opportunity to mix and match trims inside and out. So you can have an S Line exterior with a Designer interior, with the associated colour coding of wheels and cabin trim.
Digital gadgets in Audi’s ‘virtual cockpit’include the now well-known navigation display as part of the instrument cluster (that is an option) which can take real-time traffic info from the cloud in order to come up with the best route. A larger touch screen in the centre of the dash, smart phone interface and wireless charging, and Bang & Olufsen hi-fi are other things you could spend more on.
Plus there are driver assistance system galore. For a car designed essentially for life in tight spaces in cities, the available Park Assist set-up makes sense; but whoever heard of a baby car that can shoot along at up to 124mph on radar-assisted cruise control?