AUDI ‘S GREEN BABY

The German giant VW is working on the most beautifully formed ever, Auto Express has learned that the German firm is planning a new city car – and it will be based on VW’s ultra-economical micro-machine.

The new baby merges fuel economy and style never seen before from Audi. It will share nearly all its keystones with the VW, while maintaining the insignia appeal and executive air that buyers have come to expect from the four-ringed brand (Audi).

Bosses had previously hinted at the odds of a small car, and speculation suggested it would be based on the same platform as the A1 concept, first revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March. But now it has come to light that the platform will be shared with the up! – Which will also spawn a raft of other models from fellow VW Group brands Skoda and SEAT.

Audi’s new car will rival top-end versions of the Ford Ka and Fiat 500. As you can see from our pictures, the model adds a distinctive body to the chassis of the up! with a gaping grille, neat headlamps, beefy wheel arches and a sculpted rear end. But the most innovative move – and potentially the model’s biggest selling point – is the choice of ultra-economical power plants. Engineers at the VW Group are working on a pair of 600cc two-cylinder turbocharged units – one diesel and one petrol unit.