Audi A1 Cabrio Could Take A Tip From Fiat’s 500C: Report
Talk of a topless version of Audi's A1 light car has been doing the rounds since its debut in 2009. Now, a new report out of Germany suggests Audi may take a tip from the Fiat 500C's rolling canvas roof.
The little Fiat isn't the first
Talk of a topless version of Audi's A1 light car has been doing the rounds since its debut in 2009. Now, a new report out of Germany suggests Audi may take a tip from the Fiat 500C's rolling canvas roof.
The little Fiat isn't the first of its kind, of course. Its own predecessor wore a similar roll-back fabric top in the 50s, Citroen's 2CV is famous for the look, the Renault R4 had a turn, and even the Volkswagen Polo "Open Air" gave it a go.
In the case of the A1, German paper Auto Motor und Sport reports that while Audi's beancounters have dismissed the idea of a proper cabriolet, a fabric roof is seen as just the ticket.
The logic is straightforward: while a proper topdown design would require extensive strengthening of the A1's body, peeling back a chunk of roof will leave the pillars connected and keep engineering tricks to a minimum.
The magazine cites no sources for its information however, so it remains to be seen if there's any truth in it.
For now, the A1 line-up consists of the regular three-door hatch and the newly-launched A1 Sportback five-door, along with the ultra-limited 188kW A1 Quattro.