CARVE IN SEASON (some text hidden) SECTIONED_mid_audia1citycarver_2020

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 60

The MK2 Audi A1 showed its trendy lifestyle side in this 'Citycarver' guise, sold between 2019 and 2021. This variant was SUV-inspired but of course it wasn't any sort of SUV: it wasn't even really any sort of Crossover either, though it did offer an extra 4cms of ride height and, more importantly, a whole stack of extra pavement presence.

Modelsword count: 9

5dr Supermini (1.0 TFSI petrol / 1.5 TFSI petrol))

Historyword count: 128

So, the Citycarver. Silly name. Sensible car? No, not really. But then life would be pretty dull if purchase decisions were all based on sensibility. Launched in 2019, Audi's A1 Citycarver was a model aimed at people who liked the idea of a small SUV but wanted to stay with the dinky dimensions of a supermini. It's a concept that's been floated on and off quite frequently over the years, back in the dim and distant with cars like the Volkswagen Polo Dune and the Citroen C3 XTR - and more recently with the Ford Fiesta Active. But back in 2019, we'd never seen it with a premium model in this segment like the Audi A1. It didn't work and the car was withdrawn from sale in 2021.

What You Getword count: 299

If you like the thought of an A1 Sportback with a little extra attitude, then you'll like what Audi tried to do here. This variant's large, octagonal Singleframe front grille references the brand's various Q-series SUV models, and surrounds a sculpted honeycomb insert painted in matt black. The two smart slots above the grille add a bit of attitude and there's a lower silvered finish for the splitter to add a whiff of 'SUV-ness'. In profile, this model's more muscular look was achieved primarily through redesigned sills in a contrasting colour, underbody protection in a stainless steel finish and raised suspension giving around four centimetres of additional ground clearance. You also get wheel arch extensions which shroud bigger 17-inch rims. A contrast-coloured roof in either black or grey was optional. At the rear, a re-styled bumper echoes the robust look of the front end. Plus it incorporates accented black corner cut-outs and a lower silvered section. Plus there's a special Citycarver roof spoiler. Inside, there's slightly less differentiation over an ordinary A1 Sportback, but it all feels very high end for a supermini. You get Silver grey accents for the air vents, the door handle recesses and the centre console. There's aluminium trim for the control switches and the 10.25-inch 'Virtual Cockpit' digital instrument cluster which, as with any other MK2 A1, marks this car out from non-premium brand small hatches. The standard MMI centre-dash display is 8.8-inches in size, but many original owners upgraded to the larger 10.1-inch MMI Navigation monitor. In the rear seat, you'll find enough space for a couple of six-footers to sit behind comparably-sized adults in the front, though knees will probably be brushing the seat backs. And there's reasonable head room by supermini standards. Out back, there's the usual MK2 A1 335-litre boot.

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