Audi A1 Special EditionThere’s simply no exciting small cars…

I’ve long been a fan of the (BMW) Mini Cooper. However, having had a 2002 Mini Cooper and a 2005 Cooper S I was left a little cold when I went to look at the 2010 models. The interior looks like a Fiat Punto I had in 1997! The switches are tacky (the LED’s from the end have even been omitted in the R56 variant) and the heating console is hideous. And by the time you hit the options list, a reasonably specced Cooper D is coming in around 18K – an amount only acceptable if the quality is there. Which, interior wise, it certainly isn’t.

So…

Enter the Audi A1

Manufacturers have (finally) cottoned on to the fact that well made small cars are desirable (only taken them a decade). And we now have, amongst others, the Audi A1 coming out in Autumn. At last a quality brand producing a small car. However, is it just me, or is it completely lacking any character? It looks just like every other Audi out there – the designs are so refined they are utterly bland (OK, OK, I’ll grant you – except for the TT). I certainly don’t think I’d bat an eyelid if one passed me by today. Perhaps they’re just for the folks who always buy designer label clothes when Primark do a perfectly acceptable alternative for a 20th of the price. They feel all cosy in the notion that if it cost a lot, it must be good…

Audi have tried to spice things up with some A1 special editions – just woeful. Like seeing your aunty out in Ugg boots…

Thankfully there is hope. Mini have a refresh up their sleeve, due around the same time as the A1 release. New interior (similar to the Countryman), mildly updated exterior (brake ducts on the Cooper S and LED running lights across the range) and hopefully no price increases. Only trouble is, hairdressers and estate agents seem to have Mini’s cornered right now. Due to the proliferation of owners it’s become a little feminsed

There is also some interesting alternatives like the Nissan Juke and then there are reworkings of old favourites like the Fiesta ST but what they look like in the flesh remains to be seen.

Anyone got their name down for an A1? What convinced you to go for it?

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