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Hisham is a graduate from Institute of Technology MARA (UiTM) majoring in culinary arts. Since his early days at the Hotel Istana, Hisham embarked on an adventurous journey honing and shaping his culinary skills working at JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur, Villa Danieli Restaurant at Sheraton Imperial Hotel, SHOOK Restaurant @ Starhill Gallery, Prince Court Medical Center and Azamara Cruise Line under the parent company of Royal Caribbean International Cruise Line, to name just a few. So you guys already knowing me. Come On, Join Me Talking @Mamak

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Thursday 12 April 2012

COOL LITTLE THING;Audi A1 1.4TSI

If the premium compact car segment has taught us motoring hacks anything, is that people are willing to fork out big car amounts of money for a small car, so long as it is fun to drive and makes you look good.
Little surprise then that Audi is taking a shot at this segment too with the A1.
The first thing you should know, and there is no use hiding it as any internet search will tell you, that underneath the ice cool stare of its daytime running lights, the A1 is based on the current Volkswagen Polo.
Now before we jump to conclusions, the A1 is far from being a tactless badge engineering exercise designed to woo brand suckers to buy a RM180,000 Volkswagen wearing the badge of the four-rings.

For one thing the A1 looks and feels, for lack of a better word, exquisite inside and out.
Although it has that slightly generic Audi big grille look, the A1’s impeccably clean shape looks sharp and fresh, almost resembling how an A4 would look like in its youth.
While the Polo’s cabin felt slightly low rent for a RM100,000 car, the A1 on the other hand with its minimalist interior, feels like a RM200,000 car the moment you get in and close the door.
Clear of any fussy details and fitments, the A1’s clean cabin is refreshingly simple and charmingly classy.

From the A1’s cabin ambience alone you get the feeling of classiness like an Armani suit.
Also the more you look, the more you start to appreciate the sort of fine and cool details only Audi can pull off.
Though the baby Audi of the range, the cabin feels as well built as the top of the range A8L, and there isn’t anything in or out, other than the instrument binnacle, that would hint at its Wolfsburg parent.
The A1 also has some nifty gadgets too like voice operated functions (which you can train to recognise your speech) and Audi’s trademark MMI infotainment system.

Being a diminutive compact car, it is a snug fit for four adults inside, although there are adequate amounts of legroom behind, six-footers would find their heads pressed against the slanted roofline.
Luggage space isn’t that great either, but in this part of the market, practical concerns tend to take a back seat.
What really matters is character, and that is something this little Audi serves up ably.
Unlike the sombre Polo, the A1 has a quicker and sharper steering, which delivers a tad more feedback.
Though the super-capable chassis doesn’t quite light our fires, it has a more grown up feel rather than one that is thrilling, the A1 was still good fun to hurl down any country roads.
Understandably the ride is firm, but the damping kept the ride fairly comfortable even if you aren’t of the youthful and sporty crowd.
Though tackling winding roads isn’t the A1’s strong card, big executive car levels of refinement is, and the A1 would easily cruise past 140km/h effortlessly.

Power delivery felt perky from its small 1.4-litre turbocharged direct-injection TFSI engine, although it isn’t paired with a supercharger, we didn’t find the A1 lacking in poke even with four adults on board.
Having said that the 1.4-litre engine isn’t the last word in refinement, sounding more like a diesel at low revs instead of a smooth running petrol engine.
Its 7-speed dry dual-clutch S-Tronic also felt strangely clunky and unrefined at low engine speed shifts, unlike the previous wet clutch gearboxes, but once the pace picks up the S-Tronic delivers precise instantaneous shifts.
We have to doff our hats to the transmission programming though, which gives it a split-personality.
Leave it in “D” and the S-Tronic would keep shifting gears before the engine hits 3,000rpm; good if you want some efficient motoring, but it makes the A1 feel a little limp.
Nudge the lever into “S” mode however and the transmission will keep the engine singing at 3,000rpm and beyond, regardless of how light your right foot is with the throttle.

However a lack of verve in the handling department and its steep price tag isn’t going to dent the A1’s appeal, its targeted high-income buyers won’t be too concerned about practicality either.
The A1 has all the typical Audi traits, supremely capable, brimmed with features and technology, and impeccable build quality, vacuum sealed in a neat little package.
And the fact that this little package looks ice-cool is enough to freeze the immediate competition.

Specifications
Engine: 1,390cc 4-cylinder turbocharged direct-injection
Max Power:  121hp @ 5,000rpm
Max Torque: 200Nm @ 1,500 – 4,000rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch, front-wheel drive
Safety features:6 airbags, electronic stabilisation program (ESP) with traction control (ASR), electronic differential lock (EDL), ABS, EBD, and brake assist, LED daytime running lights, ISOFIX child seat mounting points
Price: RM179,900 OTR without insurance

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