Filed under: Spy Photos, Economy, Tokyo Motor Show, Audi
Rendered Speculation: Audi A1 taking different direction
With recent reports that Audi still hadn't finalized the design of it's upcoming A1 mini, designer Gabriel Rabhi has shared his own thoughts on what it should look like. Rabhi has created a series of images for Fourtitude that show a new look for the A1. Aside from the now standard Audi grille and the upsweep of the lower body character line, it doesn't share much with current Audis. Unlike Mini and Fiat, Audi doesn't have a classic small car design to draw on for retro cues so Rabhi has combined typical small car proportions with some distinct design elements. Until we see the real thing from Tokyo in a couple of weeks, check out the car in various colors at Fourtitude.
[Source: Fourtitude]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
obie 12:40PM (10/11/2007)
how come the new looks remind me so much of the mini?
isnt the A1 comin out to compete with the mini..or am i mistaken?
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LeRobert 12:44PM (10/11/2007)
Das ist hässlich! Honestly, those headlamps are ugly... and not much better can be said of the entire design.
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chris w 12:50PM (10/11/2007)
I agree! It's awful- just a terribly ugly car! What happened to the TT-hatchback? That would have sold well!
Rollolo 2:56PM (10/12/2007)
Bist du wirklich so dumm? Das ist eine Illustration eines "Küntlers", nichts offizielles!
Brett- BMW Advocate 12:47PM (10/11/2007)
ewww, thats ugly. I highly doubt the A1 will look like this, given Audi's new direction towards attractive vehicles.
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FrankTheCrank 1:05PM (10/11/2007)
No way it will look like this.
The beltline is way too low. It will have a more aggressive look. Think Audi 3 meets TT.
Brett- BMW Advocate 1:08PM (10/11/2007)
i totally agree with you on that. rendered speculation is as far as this car (pictured) needs to go.
but i'm thinking more along the lines of mini A5 and TT just because the A5 is more fresh in Audi's line-up than the current A3.
Paul C. 12:49PM (10/11/2007)
All the images looks like chops of the new Skoda Fabia
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Craig 12:49PM (10/11/2007)
Wow, can it get any uglier?
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bert 12:52PM (10/11/2007)
wow.
that is really ugly
and it looks exactly like a mini.
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GT 12:55PM (10/11/2007)
Thank goodness its only a rendered speculation...despite the fact that I love Minis (why can't they build a RWD version o.O ) I wouldn't like an apperently rebadged Mini as an Audi
Hopefully the real one will make the already amazing BMW 1series have a run for its money...
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RD 12:59PM (10/11/2007)
Looks like a Scion xD
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Doc Lucas 1:02PM (10/11/2007)
Perhaps "Riley Elf" would be a better name for an ugly badge engineered Mini?
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naggs 1:02PM (10/11/2007)
get rid of it, i never want to see it again
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DSignR 1:08PM (10/11/2007)
That's just ugly. It looks like a MINI + RD BX concept car from Nissan. I'm definitely not buying one.
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tikirob 1:09PM (10/11/2007)
Looks like everybody wants to go after Mini. They need that retro taste, this is just ugly.
Suzuki had this... http://www.autoblog.com/2005/10/02/suzuki-lc-concept-unveiled-at-tokyo-motor-show/
Rob
http://www.movie-cat.com
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John P. 1:12PM (10/11/2007)
Bwahahahahahahahahahaha! Go Ahead Audi, I dare you to build that car, just like in the picture. Go Ahead. That's just nasty ugly.
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Alex 1:16PM (10/11/2007)
Dear Mr. Gabriel Rabhi;
I'm sure you are a talented designer, but this project of yours sucks.
Thanks,
Alex
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CalGuy 1:26PM (10/11/2007)
Holy hell. Bad. Gimmicky, derrivitive (of the above mentioned Skoda). It looks like a Chinese interpretation of a Fabia with 4 circles glued on the grille. Appallingly bad. Where's that upcoming Ford Fiesta concept to show them how it's done?
I do think there's a market for a small, upscale car that's NOT retro, and Audi should be able to nail it. Let's just hope they can also design a new look interior rather than the tired stuffy one-look-fits-all dash they've been plugging into everything lately.
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Robot 1:57PM (10/11/2007)
Audi is making a big istake for copying this stupid ugly looking GAY car.
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