Is This The Upcoming Audi A1?

We suspect you’ll be seeing these photos coming at you from numerous automotive websites within a few hours, and well you should. Amid rampant speculation that Audi is pushing last-minute changes to the design of their upcoming A1 compact, expected to debut next week at the Tokyo Motor Show, we humbly present you with an alternative take by independent designer Gabriel Rabhi – a story the artist has most generously shared with Audi enthusiasts first via this website.

You might remember Rabhi as a previous focus of Fourtitude’s Independent Design Focus series, having created an eye-catching impression of Audi’s upcoming A7 four-door coupe. The French CGI artist, video game and graphical programmer first shared initial drawings of his take on the A1 at that time. Since then, Gabriel has rendered the car so extensively that he’s been able to show much more than the stationary shots provided of the A7. With the A1, studio images are joined by action shots of the car, with several familiar colors from Audi’s own palette sampled.


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DaHarder - 10/12/2007 12:26:56 PM

0 Boost

If it is, I'm thinking that it's not a very good move 'stylistically'...

Looks far more Daihatsu Kei Car than Audi.

07mcs - 10/12/2007 6:16:54 PM

+1 Boost

MINI Cooper is a lot better looking than this

EnnNorak - 10/13/2007 12:27:18 AM

+1 Boost

Looks like it was conceived by an executive who has not had enough failures yet.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/13/2007 3:04:17 AM

+1 Boost

Looks like it's not a real vehicle... that's because, it isn't.

BMW4me4ever - 10/12/2007 12:33:50 PM

+1 Boost

wtf is that?

Airliner - 10/12/2007 12:37:08 PM

+2 Boost

TAXI!!

theoptimisticpessimist - 10/12/2007 12:38:50 PM

+2 Boost

Good heavens, what a bastardized design; you can see elements of Mini, Scion, and even the Nissan Figaro in it. None of them in a good way. Audi is far more capable then something like this.

Agent009 - 10/12/2007 12:57:03 PM

+1 Boost

This is an independent conceptual design.

theoptimisticpessimist - 10/12/2007 1:05:37 PM

+2 Boost

Good! we can all hope is completely ignored by Audi. Judging by reaction from this and other automotive websites it will.

Shredmo - 10/12/2007 12:49:30 PM

+1 Boost

It is bizarre, which I like. I understand why people are quite critical of it's looks, as it's styling is not for everyone. That being said, I'd prefer an ugly design to an irrelevant one.

monkeyrun - 10/12/2007 1:49:30 PM

0 Boost

nope, he basically copy and paste the Audi Grill to a xA.

JUGNU - 10/12/2007 2:16:49 PM

0 Boost

WTF, this looks like Suzuki Competitor.But sorry Suzuki swift looks times better than this ugly shit.

JUGNU

JUGNU - 10/12/2007 2:17:03 PM

0 Boost

WTF, this looks like Suzuki Competitor.But sorry Suzuki swift looks times better than this ugly shit.

JUGNU

david999 - 10/12/2007 2:30:54 PM

0 Boost

Surprised how non-Audi like design this is.

Matthew1 - 10/13/2007 12:38:47 AM

0 Boost

You are all wrong.

It looks like a Skoda:

http://upload.moldova.org/auto/Scoda/Skoda-Fabia_2007_01.jpg

(And remember this rendering WAS NOT designed by Audi)

S4cabriofoxone - 10/13/2007 3:05:51 AM

0 Boost

Definitely looks like a taxi... and not an attractive one, at that. Audi will laugh in the face of whoever designed this.

I wish you hadn't posted this article, 009. Some people are naive enough to think it's real.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/13/2007 3:07:19 AM

0 Boost

The thing is, the overall profile is quite similar to the TT Shooting Brake Concept...

http://images.km.ru/auto/audi-shooting-brake-2.jpg

I hope they make the A1 look exactly like that, but smaller. I'd be sold!

Matthew1 - 10/14/2007 1:14:54 AM

+1 Boost

I actually like it.

Although it still has a passing resemblance to the Fabia.