Audi launched the A1 in the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and it was first sold in Germany as well as the UK later part of the year. But it was only early 2011 when the smashing supermini came to our local shores. So despite the fact that the Audi A1 has been on the road since then, the three-door compact hatch from Ingolstadt inevitably limited its appeal for families and buyers looking for greater practicality.

Perhaps the product wasn't quite suitable for fussy Singaporeans and customers had yet to come to terms with the idea of a boutique three-door compact hatchback, although there was a growing demand for small cars that offered the generous cabin quality feel of bigger cars. Volkswagen succeeded well in this aspect, with the Golf and the Polo model range but is now being forced to compete with Audi's latest offering for its share of the hatchback pie.

Exterior

Casting its net wider with the A1 Sportback - a five-door version of the A1 - Audi is poised to take the supermini segment by storm. It has preserved its strengths and reinforced its weaknesses on the A1 to include young families with children, thanks to the added rear doors. As a result, the car is now a much more interesting proposition.

In terms of its dimensions, the A1 Sportback's length and wheelbase have been brought over from the A1 at 3,954mm and 2,469mm respectively. But when compared to the three-door A1, the Sportback is slightly taller and wider, sporting an extra 6mm in both directions.

Visually, the A1 Sportback you see here hasn't changed much from the three-door twin. Despite the extra set of doors, the designers have retained the overall proportion and silhouette that make it immediately recognisable as an Audi A1. Its form is clearly in line with the design language of the marque, resulting in a bold and stylish look when parked in the open while sporting a clean unbroken line on the side that flows across the doors before ending at the rear side panels.