When creating a new Audi from scratch, every square-centimeter of the design – from the windows to the mirrors – requires meticulous attention to detail and careful planning. But what does vary from model to model are the elements that make it unequivocally unique.

For the Audi A1, perhaps the most distinctive and personality-infused design element is its daringly sporty shoulders. When looking at the Audi A1 head on, the designers have imbued a sense of masculinity, by making its ‘shoulders’ unusually broad and dramatic – giving it a tough stance.

From side-on, the shoulder-lines are more pronounced that your average: with a sharp line that starts from above the front end strips and along the sides as far as the rear lights – the line gracefully arched and completely unbroken. Like a painting’s vanishing point, this line keeps the designs composition together; the central element to which other elements are drawn in. Rather than a conventional car design, where the front end, sides and tail are pulled together by separate lines and shapes. Here, the designers aimed to create what they described as “one complete unit… the whole car is a single sculpture”.

As for the roof – with its curved design that runs sharply from the A-post to the tail – is another element that defies conventional design.

The wind-shield is more upright, while the rear-window has been given noticeably less rake, making it look fast and giving the impression of dramatic forward momentum – even when stationary.

An exciting prospect is Audi’s claims that customers will be able to order the roof in a variety of colours (whatever the car’s main body colour). Well… an exciting prospect if you’re looking to mix black with gunmetal grey. Perhaps not so good if you’re duped into getting a baby blue / sage red combo!

We leave you with a video from Ivo van Hulten, interior designer of the Audi A1.