Germany Downsizes for Tokyo Auto Show

As it would turn out, compact luxury is a big deal, bigger than it’s ever been before. The perception that the ultimate luxury is size and mass has been broken down and shoved aside, as the biggest players in the premium segment are now thinking small. The compact Audi A3 has been a veritable success, and Mercedes-Benz is doing well for itself in other markets with the Civic-sized B-Class. Of course, the game will be shaken up once more when the 1-Series BMW arrives early next year. While C-Segment cars are small, luxury carmakers are now wondering how small they can go at Tokyo, a place that’s no stranger to small cars.

Audi will be debuting the brand new A1 metroproject Quattro Concept, the smallest vehicle to bear the four rings in recent years. The car is powered by a 1.4-liter TSI engine that makes 150 horsepower, and is mated to a twin-clutch gearbox. In addition, the car is boosted along by a hybrid powertrain that drives the rear wheels, providing extra grip when needed and full-electric vehicle capabilities. The 30 kW electric motor assists the A1 in providing sports car like performance, including a 0 to 60 mph time of 7.8 seconds, but it’s also extremely environmentally friendly, emitting only 6.4 oz/mi of CO2 and traveling 48 miles per gallon of gasoline on average. The new lithium-polymer batteries give the car the ability to travel 62 miles per charge on battery power alone, and what’s more, the A1 is a plug-in hybrid.

Next on the discussion table is BMW, which will reportedly be serving up a fresh new interpretation of “small” with a car based on the 1-Series. It won’t however, be the rumored X1, and since we’ve already seen the production version of the 1-Series Cabriolet, it’s unlikely to be that either. A compact sports car, one smaller, and lighter than the current Z4 seems like a strong possibility. Initially when the CS1 Concept was still being worked on, BMW planned on a two-seat roadster version. This seems like the ideal candidate to compete against the efficient but enjoyable Mazda MX-5 and Pontiac Solstice.

Finally, Volkswagen will appear on the scene with the next installment of the Up! concept. The vehicle we first saw at Frankfurt just a few months ago is expected to grow from a tiny, three-door hatchback to one that could serve duty as a small family hauler. The long wheelbase five-door Up! is expected to be shown, carrying over Volkswagen’s new rear-engine, RWD chassis. Further announcements regarding the Up! include the development of a plug-in diesel hybrid model, and the adoption of all-wheel drive for snow-belt climates. Volkswagen has all but confirmed that the Up! will be produced. As a matter of fact, a spokesperson from Volkswagen of America commented that an Up! convertible with a manual roof and a hybrid drivetrain would be sold by the end of the decade.