Recently, both Audi and BMW have shown their interest to produce small cars, even though their model range is made of luxury sedans, big SUVs and fast supercars.

Audi showed last week the Metroproject quattro at the Tokyo Motor Show, a concept car that foreshadows the looks of the next Audi A1. It will arrive on the market in late 2009 and its rivals will be cars such as the Mini Cooper or the future BMW supermini. The three-door variant is likely going to be followed by a five-door version and a convertible one.

Motor Authority published these two renderings in which the cabrio and 5-door variants keep many of the concept’s details, such as the aluminium arches and the LED headlights. The 18″ alloy wheels are unlikely to be kept for the production version.

The next Audi A1 will be built on a totally new platform (the same one that will be used in the new VW Polo) and is going to be equipped with a front wheel-drive, but a low-volume performance model (the S1?) that could get a quattro all wheel-drive is also on the cards. The new platform is also likely to use the new seven-speed DSG gearbox.

The engine range will include small TSI and TDI units from 1.4 to 2.0 litres, and a mild hybrid option could be offered too, but there are few chances to see a full hybrid system with lithium-ion batteries such as the one shown on the concept.

Via | MotorAuthority

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