Audi has released details and pictures of its 2012 A1 Sportback – the five-door version of its Mini rival.

The Sportback will expand an A1 line-up that has already been a sales success both globally and in South Africa and will become Audi’s best-selling model, according to the car maker.

The A1 Sportback is the same length as the 3.95 m-long three-door A1, but is 6 mm taller and wider to bring slightly more head and shoulder room. Practicality otherwise remains unchanged, with boot capacity still 270 litres – expandable to 920-litres with the rear seats folded down.

The two extra doors are obviously one of the differentiators between the two A1 models and add only about 25 kg to the five-door’s kerb weight.

A1 Sportback customers, however, have an additional paintwork option where they can pay extra for the upper section of the car – including the roof, roof arches and rear spoiler – to be finished in a contrasting colour to the main body. The three-door A1 offers only optional roof arches in a contrasting colour.

Engines in Europe again include three petrols and three diesels, although in South Africa we’re likely to see the three-door’s engine line-up continue, this is to say, a 63 kW 1.2-litre turbo petrol, 90 kW 1.4-litre turbo petrol, 136 kW 1.4-litre turbocharged and supercharged and a 77 kW 1.6-litre turbo diesel.

The 2012 Audi A1 Sportback, which as with the three-door is related to the Volkswagen Polo, is likely to carry a small premium over the three-door that starts at R219 900 for the 1.2 TFSI Attraction.