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For a brand known for performance cars to offer a model with a 1.0-litre, three cylinder petrol engine might seem like a strange move.

But the Audi A1 1.0 TFSI is a car which punches above its weight.

The new addition to the A1 line-up develops 95bhp and will accelerate to 62 miles per hour in a very respectable 10.9 seconds. It feels like a car with a sprightly 1.4-litre powerplant beneath the .

In fact it’s so good that on my first drive in the car I was convinced the wrong vehicle had been delivered – one with a larger engine.

Despite four people being on board it pulled heartily, accelerated with gusto and was decidedly quiet.

Under normal driving conditions you are not aware that the engine is one cylinder short of the norm. Only when you accelerate hard can you hear the distinctive three cylinder burble.

For prospective buyers, of course, the bonus is you get a car which is not lacking in performance but which is low down the A1 price list, will
average more than 67 miles per gallon and has such low emissions you don’t pay any road tax.

And while the A1 is the smallest model Audi produces it still has the same quality feel to it that its more expensive siblings are known for.