Audi A1 to be sold outside of Europe, U.S. to get it with 2nd generation model

August 25, 2010 Omar Rana Audi A1, Compact Cars, Hatchbacks

Audi has decided to start selling the new A1 compact outside of Europe starting next year. The automaker’s sales chief Peter Schwarzenbauer said that the company will be increasing production to meet higher demand outside of Europe.

The move to expand A1 sales came after a website the automaker set up for the car attracted more than 150,000 interested customers worldwide, Schwarzenbauer said. He said that starting next year, the A1 will be sold in other markets, with the exception of China and United States. Don’t lose hope just yet because Schwarzenbauer said that China should get the A1 at some point after 2011, while the U.S. will get it when the model’s second-generation comes out.

Schwarzenbauer said that Audi “will expand production capacities by 20 percent” for the A1. The Volkswagen Group brand originally pledged to produce about 100,000 A1 units annually at the Brussels factory.

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Refresher: The 2011 Audi A1 will go on sale in Europe later this year with prices starting around 16,000 euros ($22,062 USD). Power will come from a lineup of 4-cylinder engines, which consists of two TDI diesels and two TFSI gasoline units with output ranging from 84-hp to 122-hp. Mated to a 7-speed S tronic transmission, fuel-economy will range from 44 mpg and 62 mpg.