Why buy a BYD Dolphin? Cheapest Audi sharpens up as the end nears

The least-expensive Audi in Australia will gain a series of upgrades in the coming weeks, to make it a more appealing value-for-money proposition in the face of stiffer competition and shrinking market share.

Likely to be called the A1 Sportback ‘Life Cycle Edition’, the changes are set to add an S-Line-style body kit, similar to the Black Edition sold in the UK, delivering a more athletic look.

The move might also bring sports seats, blacked-out exterior and interior trim, extra equipment, unique wheels and even a firmer suspension tune for improved dynamic responses.

Better still, pricing is expected to remain around the same as today’s (solely petrol-powered four-cylinder) versions, which kick off from less than $40,000 before on-road costs for the 35 TFSI with a 1.5-litre turbo and about $51,000 for the 40 TFSI with a 2.0-litre turbo.

Costs and timing have yet to be announced, but Audi Australia Product Manager, Matt Dale, said the MY25 updates prove there is still life in the ageing premium supermini.

“We do have a Life Cycle Edition there, which the (Audi product development) team has done a fantastic job on, and which is to come out shortly,” he told CarsGuide.

“That is a new and exciting product for us, because visually, we're changing the look and feel of that car to a sportier appearance.”

Now in its seventh year of availability, the second-generation A1 since 2010 is nearing the end of its production run, with no direct successor for it nor the closely-related Q2 light SUV in sight.

Instead, it has been widely speculated Audi will eventually replace both from about next year or in 2027 with an electrified compact crossover that will sit beneath the Q3 in the Ingolstadt brand’s vast model range. It might even revive the hallowed A2 badge if some reports are to be believed.

Back to the MY25 Life Cycle Edition, Audi’s aim is to revive flagging sales against newer rivals, from the redesigned Mini Cooper range that also includes the new Aceman EV series, to the updated and closely-related Volkswagen Polo.

Last year, volume nosedived 62 per cent compared to 2023 figures, resulting in just 176 registrations, against 1559 for the Mini Cooper and 2154 for the Polo.

Audi said it will stand behind the A1 for as long as the premium B-segment supermini is made available in Australia.

“It is a popular stepping stone to the Audi brand… it is an important car for us,” Dale said.

But there is a more prudent reason for the A1 to hang around, thanks to highly economical and efficient powertrain options that help keep the corporate average carbon-dioxide emissions average down in line with the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) that came into effect on January 1 this year.

“The A1 helps us with NVES, because the A1 as it stands at today with the latest engine technology, that's well below the first two years of the NVES strategy,” Dale admitted.

“That car actually pulls credits for us.”

For how long supply for Australia can maintain remains to be seen, but with improved styling and specification, the MY25 Life Cycle Edition might end up being a vibrant last hurrah for the (relatively affordable) Audi.