New 2020 Audi A1 Citycarver Introduce

New 2020 Audi A1 Citycarver Introduce https://youtu.be/Pq8ZApNg6zs

German Edition got some time in the new Audi A1 Citycarver, a vehicle that doesn't really have an analog in the U.S. market. This high-riding city car splits the difference between the minicar and the crossover. Check out the full first drive.

We were warned that this would not be a normal driving experience. We would test the new Audi A1 Citycarver in Hamburg, Germany and get to know some start-up companies that would provide additional context to the high-riding sub-compact hatch.
It’s basically a normal A1 Sportback with a two-inch lift and a bit of SUV tinsel. There are black wheel arch protections, an octagonal egg-crate grille that matches Audi’s SUVs (the cars have hexagonal grilles) and a neat blacked-out badge.

There’s additional equipment that increases the price by 1,800 Euro ($2,000 at today’s rates) compared to the Sportback, and a range of engine options. A turbocharged 1.0-liter, available with either 95 or 116 horsepower will arrive shortly after the A1 Citycarver’s November launch, as will a turbocharged 1.5-liter with 150 hp. Don’t count on the 200-hp 2.0-liter engine, though. As for our tester, it carried the 1.0-liter engine paired to a dual-clutch transmission. A manual gearbox will follow.
Even without driving the normal A1, I dare to say I like the Sportback. The ride is a little bit on the hard side, but without being a bother. According to Audi spokesman Sascha Höppner, the Citycarver is not softer (although it could be if the car is higher). Only its tires and wheels could make a difference, but no more than when choosing a different wheel/tire package for the normal A1.

The 116-hp three-cylinder of the 30 TFSI is as good as in the other models of the Volkswagen Group. I often noticed that I like it even better than the bigger 1.5-liter with 150 horsepower. The engine’s throttle reacts quickly to inputs, although it sounds a bit rough in the upper rev range. As a three-cylinder fan, though, I like that – it gives the A1 a sporty touch.

The dual-clutch gearbox always takes a little time to react, though. Maybe I'm too impatient for automatic transmissions in general. In any case, even in dense city traffic, the manual transmission is preferable, because I can drive off with without having to wait until the car has sorted out the gears.