New 3-cylinder addition to A1 & A1 Sportback takes entry price of Audi ownership to £14,315

New three-cylinder petrol engine joins updated A1 range polished by styling revisions, equipment upgrades and efficiency gains

• New three-cylinder addition to acclaimed A1 and A1 Sportback ranges takes entry price of Audi ownership to £14,315 OTR
• Available to order now in conjunction with SE or Sport specification – first UK deliveries in summer 2015
• A1 1.0 TFSI five-speed manual – 0-62mph in 10.9 seconds, top speed 116mph, combined MPG 67.3, CO₂ 97g/km
• A1 and A1 Sportback ranges recently enhanced by styling revisions inside and out, new or improved engines, more equipment and improved option packs

Weighing up the pros and cons of petrol and diesel power becomes a little harder for Audi A1 customers from today as a new super-frugal, 97g/km TFSI version of the three or five-door subcompact becomes available in the UK. 

Equipped with a characterful new three-cylinder engine – the first petrol unit with this configuration ever to be installed in an Audi model – the latest A1 variant promises to bring 67mpg-plus economy, peppy performance and the premium hallmarks that distinguish every Audi within even easier reach with an OTR price starting from £14,315.

The 95PS turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine effectively replaces the 89PS 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine available in the A1 since launch. It can call on a healthy 160Nm of torque to propel the A1 1.0 TFSI with standard five-speed manual gearbox to 62mph from rest in 10.9 seconds, regardless of whether it is powering the three-door or five-door Sportback body style.

A seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission is also available, and with this installed the acceleration time is also unchanged in both versions. Top speed is 116mph in every case.

Equally importantly, the new engine can return up to 67.3mpg in the A1 when linked to the standard manual gearbox, or 64.2mpg in conjunction with the S tronic transmission, equating to CO₂ figures of 97g/km and 102g/km respectively. Again, these figures apply regardless of the body style chosen.

For comparison, the 1.6-litre TDI which retains its position as the most frugal option in the updated range now benefits from an economy boost from 74.3mpg to 80.7mpg according to the combined cycle test, and a CO₂ reduction from 99g/km to 92g/km in both body styles.

SE or Sport specification options

The new three-cylinder petrol engine is available in conjunction with either SE or Sport specification, both options including alloy wheels, remote central locking, air conditioning, electric front windows and mirrors and a six-speaker single CD audio system with auxiliary iPod connection linked to a 6.5-inch retractable display. 

A secondary collision brake assist system, which can initiate automatic braking to reduce the risks of skidding and additional collisions during an accident, also now forms part of the standard equipment list.

Key upgrades which are new to the latest 2015 Sport specification include the Audi Music Interface and preparation for SD card-based navigation. They join existing features such as larger 16-inch wheels, sports suspension, sports seats, Bluetooth mobile phone preparation and a Driver’s Information System

The firmer sports suspension configuration which is a standard feature of Sport models has been revised to increase its absorbency, but customers can now choose to replace it at no extra cost with the more supple set-up of the SE versions.  

As always with the A1 and A1 Sportback, prospective owners of the new 1.0 TFSI version will be able to choose from a wealth of options to personalise their car and enhance it with features more commonly associated with models from the classes above.

The roof line in three-door models and the entire roof section in Sportback versions can be painted in a range of contrasting colours, creating an imposing and individual look that can be accentuated further by features such as privacy glass and a high gloss black styling package taking in the grille and side air inlets.

 Distinctive accents can also be added in the high quality cabin, where elements such as the rear view mirror surround, air vent sleeves, door pulls and the edges of the centre console can be finished in vibrant colours including Misano red, Macao yellow and Glacier white.

Owners looking to maximise the A1’s big car condensed appeal also have a wide selection of cost effective bundled option packages to choose from which add everything from an open sky panoramic sunroof, acoustic parking control and LED interior lighting to satellite navigation, Audi Phone Box mobile connectivity and in-car internet services via Audi connect.

Three into Audi A1 does go –   A new three-cylinder TFSI engine joins the recently updated Audi A1 range today combining lively performance and 67mpg potential with an accessible starting price of £14,315 OTR.

The new Audi A1 1.0 TFSI – UK OTR pricing

1.0 TFSI three-door five-speed manual

SE	£14,315
Sport	£16,290

1.0 TFSI Sportback five-speed manual

SE	£14,935
Sport	£16,910

Premium for S tronic transmission - £1,540

Price & specs announced for 367PS Audi RS 3 Sportback ahead of March on-sale date

• All new second generation RS 3 Sportback available to order in the UK from March 2015 priced at £39,950 OTR - first customer deliveries in summer
• Most powerful production five-cylinder engine in Audi RS history with 367PS and 465Nm from 1,625rpm to 5,550rpm
• 0 – 62mph in 4.3 seconds – 0.3 seconds faster than the previous model – 155mph governed top speed can be raised to 174mph on request
• Lower weight, faster-shifting S tronic twin-clutch gearbox, faster-reacting quattro drive

The all new 367PS Audi RS 3 Sportback is now en route to the UK, and as the most powerful compact hatchback currently in series production will be even more adept at catering for sports car devotees who also need to take care of everyday necessities like the school run and the supermarket sweep.  

Capable of snapping at the heels of exotica with its 4.3-second 0-62mph sprint time and potential top speed of up to 174mph, the new five-door, five-seat Sportback will weigh in at £39,950 OTR. It will become available to order in March and reach its first UK customers in the summer.

The new entry point to the formidable Audi RS range is born of impeccable breeding – it is based on the current World Car of the Year and features the latest evolution of the evocative 2.5-litre five-cylinder TFSI – winner of the International Engine of the Year Award in the 2.0 to 2.5-litre category on no less than five consecutive occasions since 2010. 

Equally reassuringly, it shores up the extraordinary performance and handling produced by bringing these two elements together with the latest generation of quattro all-wheel-drive. 

The 367PS output from the aurally characterful 2.5-litre TFSI is complemented by peak torque of 465 Nm (343.0 lb-ft), which is available right from 1,625rpm through to 5,550rpm, ensuring that huge reserves of performance are always at the driver’s disposal.

With a power-to-weight ratio of 241PS per ton achieved by trimming an additional 55kg compared with the previous RS 3 Sportback, the latest car needs just 4.3 seconds to hit 62mph from rest, and with a suitable stretch of Autobahn to hand could continue to an electronically governed 155mph top speed. Drivers looking for optimal performance can also specify an optional increase to 174mph.

EU6-compliant

Compliance with stringent EU6 emissions legislation confirms that the latest edition of the classic five-cylinder unit is as frugal as it is feisty. With the help of a recuperation system, a demand-controlled oil pump and a new generation start-stop facility which increases the duration of engine ‘downtime’ at each stop, the latest RS model is capable of returning up to 34.8mpg, corresponding to CO₂ emissions of 189g/km.

Butterfly valves in the exhaust system control the exhaust flow and deliver a suitably full-bodied and characterful note that varies with engine load and speed. For the first time in an Audi model at this level, a sports exhaust upgrade which deepens the tone even further is also available as an option. The driver can control the volume and depth of the output in both set-ups via the standard Audi drive select adaptive dynamics system.

A seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission reworked to offer even faster shifts directs the power to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system with its redesigned and lightened multi-plate clutch and torque vectoring capability. The clutch is mounted on the rear axle in the interest of balanced load distribution, and the parameters its bespoke RS 3 software works to can be controlled via the Audi drive select system.

Depending on the situation, it can send between 50 and 100 percent of the available torque to the rear axle, and when Audi drive select is in dynamic mode and the ESC Electronic Stabilisation Control system is in its sport setting, power is transferred to the rear sooner and in greater amounts for even greater agility and more direct turn-in.

The state-of-the-art all-wheel-drive system adds a further measure of control and composure to the inherently agile RS-specific chassis with its wider track front and rear, uprated MacPherson strut front suspension with purpose-built lightweight aluminium pivot bearings and four-link rear set-up. The new electromechanical progressive steering system which is capable of varying its ratio as a function of steering input also helps to emphasise the quick-witted feel.

From the driver-focused section of the options list the Audi magnetic ride adaptive damper system can be added to level out ride and handling to an even greater degree, and the steadfast RS-specific disc brakes with their efficiency-boosting wave contour discs, eight-piston calipers and bespoke lightweight friction rings upfront can be further upgraded with carbon fibre-ceramic front brake discs – a first for a car at this level.

Standard LED headlamps for UK versions

Classic RS visual references signal the special qualities that all these features confer to the outside world. In UK specification versions the nose with its high-gloss black, honeycomb-look singleframe grille and pronounced air intakes is set off by standard LED headlamps and daytime running lights. In profile the standard 19-inch alloy wheels snugly filling their arches, flared front wings, chiselled sills, matt aluminium-look mirror housings and large roof spoiler also catch the eye, and the rear with its remodelled bumper and high-gloss black diffuser insert is dominated in each corner by a large, oval RS tailpipe.

Customers can choose from a palette of eight paint finishes to either accentuate or subtly play down the purposeful look – it includes the two new shades Nardo grey and Catalunya red, metallic, the latter available exclusively for the RS 3 Sportback.

In the equally focused interior the standard sports seats are upholstered in Fine Nappa leather with contrasting stitching in rock grey, and the driver’s is perfectly positioned in relation to the flat-bottomed RS multifunction sports steering wheel with its leather and Alcantara trim. 

Stainless steel pedals, Alcantara door inserts and inlays in either 3D design black or optional Aluminium Race or Carbon also signal intent. High-quality applications in gloss anthracite black frame the instruments, which include black-faced dials with red needles and white scales, plus a driver‘s information system enhanced by a boost pressure indicator, an oil temperature gauge and a lap timer.

In addition to LED headlights, standard equipment highlights for UK RS 3 Sportback models include the acclaimed MMI radio with its electrically folding colour screen, navigation preparation, Audi Music Interface iPod connection,  Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, front seat heating and the parking system plus with acoustic and visual guidance. 

Choice options include newly developed RS bucket seats bringing a 7kg weight saving over the standard sports seat, an RS 3 interior design package with red accents on the seats, knee pads, air vents, floor mats and seat belts and MMI navigation plus with MMI touch, which through its Audi connect function beams internet-based services to the car.

AUDI hits the Two Million milestone in the UK after 50 years.

Fifty years after its first domestic delivery Audi UK has registered an A3 Sportback plug-in hybrid as its two-millionth car sale

• First Audi model codenamed F103 reached the UK in 1965, when the brand sold just 32 cars
• Two millionth car sold by the UK importer is an A3 Sportback e-tron plug-in hybrid
• Sales success achieved through more than two decades of strong and virtually unbroken growth –  2014 was no exception with a record 158,987 sales

When just 32 cars bearing the four rings found homes in the UK in 1965, it would have seemed improbable that an incredible two million more would follow, but this major milestone has today been reached by Audi UK almost fifty years later.

The first four-ringed car sold to a UK customer was a ‘compact executive’ in a model range of just one, internally codenamed the F103 and publicly known simply as ‘The Audi’. It was to be the springboard for a range that in 2015 numbers some 51 model types ranging from subcompact city cars to ten-cylinder supercars, and which has recently welcomed the A3 Sportback e-tron, the brand’s first ever plug-in hybrid and the two millionth car to be handed over to a UK customer.  

As parent company Audi AG edges ever closer to selling two million cars globally in a single year – around 1,741,000 cars were delivered to customers worldwide in 2014 – its UK importer has just cumulatively broken through the two million barrier buoyed by more than two decades of recession-resistant sales strength, during which time its trajectory has been upward in all but three years. From a base of just 14,344 cars in 1991, the brand exceeded 100,000 annual sales for the first time in 2007, and in 2014 posted a total of 158,987 deliveries. 

Director of Audi UK André Konsbruck marked the momentous occasion by saying: “It’s hugely gratifying for the team in the UK to reach this significant milestone in the brand’s history in the UK, but it’s the contributory figures lying behind the headline number which really speak volumes about our recent past and our future aspirations. 

Domestically the brand has risen from humble beginnings in the Sixties to become the leader in the premium segment, and the last two decades have delivered virtually constant, and in all but three years record-breaking, growth. These are really robust foundations on which we plan to build consistently and substantially with the help of an ever expanding portfolio of models.”

Ingolstadt born and bred

‘The Audi’ which projected the green shoots of this abundant growth was built by Auto Union AG, the conglomerate whose emblem contained a ring representing each of its four constituent companies Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer. 

It was assembled at the company’s Ingolstadt plant in Bavaria, Germany, which remains the headquarters of the modern day Audi brand to this day, and it was the first car to leave the production line with a four-stroke engine rather than the more commonplace two-stroke design. In terms of horsepower, the 1700cc engine produced 72PS, a fraction of the 570PS available in the most powerful production Audi to head the current range – the limited edition R8 LMX. 

Priced at £160,000 OTR, its 5.2-litre V10 powerplant is capable of propelling the supercar to 62mph in just 3.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 198mph.

Available as a two-door ‘coupé’, four-door saloon or estate, ‘The Audi’ was essentially the precursor to the Audi 80 and 90, which went on to form the conceptual basis of the A4, the compact executive saloon which sparked a revolution for the Audi brand in 1995 and began to decisively cement its position as a fully fledged member of the premium sector establishment.

Two million cars further down the line, the model that has posted the milestone for Audi UK combines a conventional 1.4-litre TFSI petrol engine with an electric motor to deliver the potential for up to 176mpg with CO₂ emissions of just 37g/km.

The latest electric plug-in hybrid variant of the Audi A3, which was crowned World Car of the Year in 2014, can run exclusively on electric power for up to 31 miles at speeds of up to 80mph, or can be powered by petrol combustion alone. When the two power sources are combined, an overall operating range of up to 584 miles is possible. The battery powering the electric motor can be charged by plugging the A3 Sportback e-tron into a home wallbox for as little as two hours and fifteen minutes.

WHAT CAR AWARDS - THREE Wins, TWO best buys ONE Company, that will be AUDI.

Triple triumph for Audi at the high-profile What Car? Awards ceremony 

• Audi TT named Coupé of the Year in the 2015 What Car? Awards
• Plug-in hybrid A3 Sportback e-tron wins Electric Car of the Year
• For the second consecutive year, the A3 Cabriolet secures the Convertible Car category
• Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI ultra SE Executive and the A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI SE also commended as 'best buys' in their respective categories

Reaffirming its status as an enduring What Car? favourite, the Audi TT in its recently launched, all-new form, has once again been crowned Coupé of the Year in the respected magazine’s annual awards. 

Equally importantly, two new variations on the theme of the A3, itself a winner of the overall Car of the Year Award in 2013, have also secured important category victories – the A3 Cabriolet dominates its class for a second successive year, and on its debut entry the new A3 Sportback e-tron plug-in hybrid proves its mettle by taking on and beating critically acclaimed EV contenders to the title of Electric Car of the Year.  

In its explanatory account covering the winning Audi models, the experienced judges on the What Car? editorial team dub the A3 Sportback e-tron a 'no-brainer for business users', refer to the A3 Cabriolet as 'one of the best open-tops for driving thrills' and describe the TT as a 'fabulous ownership proposition', featuring 'one of the finest cabins of any car'.

The 2015 Coupe of the Year – specifically the TT 2.0 TFSI Sport - is the latest in a long line of Audi TTs favoured as What Car? winners, dating back to the revolutionary first generation car, which wowed the judges back in 2001. The TT has been nominated in every one of the past eight years, and has won the category outright in all but one.

Explaining the decision to continue the TT’s amazing run of success for yet another year, What Car? Editor Jim Holder said: "The new TT follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, winning our Coupé of the Year Award at the first time of asking. It does so by a big margin, because while there are plenty of sleek and slinky-looking offerings in this market, they all demand some form of compromise from you – either in the way they drive, how easy they are to live with or how much they cost to buy and run. All except the TT. In fact, it’s so good, we wouldn’t bet against it winning this award for years to come."

UK deliveries of the new TT are already in progress, and in addition to the 230 PS 2.0 TFSI, the new ' ultra' model also makes its debut. Its 2.0 TDI engine produces 184 PS and 380Nm of torque, and a combined MPG figure of 67.3 is possible in line with CO2 emissions of just 110g/km. Prices for the TT range start from £29,770 OTR in Sport specification, rising to £40,270 OTR for the formidable 310PS TTS Coupé.

A3 range maintains its winning streak

Singling out the 150 PS 1.4 TFSI version of the A3 Cabriolet Sport with fuel-saving Cylinder-on Demand technology as its specific winner, the What Car? team praises its thriftiness and its "precise steering, performance and hushed refinement". 

An interior that "exudes class" with "cabin quality you’d expect on soft-tops twice the price" is also complimented, and in summary the A3 is lauded as "still the best open-top you can buy." Prices start at £26,085 OTR for SE models - comprehensive Sport and S line specifications complete the line-up.

Sharing the limelight with its premium compact counterpart, the A3 Sportback e-tron"mixes the many merits of the A3 with even more incentive for company car buyers to make electric driving more accessible" according to the judging panel. 

Both are available to order in the UK now, and first customer deliveries of the A3 Sportback e-tron are due this month. Priced from £29,950, the first series plug-in hybrid in the Audi range offers the potential for up to 176mpg on a full charge can travel for up to 31 miles using electric propulsion alone before the 1.4 TFSI petrol engine intervenes. Overall, a range of over 580 miles is attainable on a full charge and a tank of fuel.

Audi 'Best Buys'

In addition to the outright accolades, two more Audi models received price point plaudits – in the 'more than £35,000 category', the new A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI ultra SE Executive earned a commendation in the Executive Car class and in the Family Car sector the A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI SE was rated as the pick of the bunch in the more than £20,000 bracket.

Commenting on the outstanding result for Audi UK, Director Andre Konsbruck said: “I am absolutely delighted not only with the quantity of wins Audi has secured in the eyes of What Car? this year, but also in the quality of those wins. 

The all-new TT and A3 Cabriolet are of course prime examples of state-of-the-art Vorsprung durch Technik, with all the emphasis on definitive design and build and advanced technology that this entails, but it’s the recognition for the new A3 e-tron in the face of such heralded competition which is the crowning achievement for me. It emphasises for me that wrapping the future in a familiar package that demands no compromises is the right way to travel at this stage."

UK RECALL #13 - MITSBISHI - Possible loss of power steering

Vehicle Details
Reference :	R/2014/124
Manufacturer Ref :	R30271XX
Make:	MITSUBISHI
Model :	Lancer, Lancer Sportback, Lancer Evolution, Lancer Ralliart, Outlander (with 4B1 petrol engines)
Launch Date :	28/11/2014
Numbers Involved :	3879
Build Start Date :	03/12/2007
Build End Date :	26/02/2009

Recall Details
Concern :	LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE
Description :	Due to the use of inappropriate material for the drive belt on the 4B1 Petrol engine, the nylon idler pulley(s) may wear at an angle. If this continues under this condition, the drive belt will be forced off the pulleys. This can lead to battery depletion, Overheating and on vehicles with hydraulic power steering the steering effort will increase.
Remedial Action :	Replace drive belt. Check and if necessary replace idler pulley(s)
Vehicle Id :	JMASNCY3A8U000201 to JMASTCY3A9U000282 JMALNCX3A9U000201 to JMALTCX3A9U000383 CZ4A0001472 to CZ4A0006699 JMALMCX4A9U000201 to JMALMCX4A9U000455 JMYSNCZ4A9U000619 to JMYSNCZ4A9U000685 JMALMCX4A9U000201 to JMALMCX4A9U000455

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