In less than 24 hours from now, Audi will officially release the first photographs and details on its MINI Cooper-rivaling A1 premium hatchback that will have its formal debut at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. But since we know that many of you are an impatient bunch, we thought we’d share some facts that we learned about the A1 from an inside source.

First of all, the A1 will be launched onto the market as a three-door model with the five-door Sportback to follow at a later date.

It will be available initially with a choice of two gasoline and two diesel engines, all featuring turbocharging, direct injection and start / stop technology.

The petrol range will comprise of the the 1.2-liter and 1.4-liter TFSI units producing 85HP and 120HP respectively, while on the diesel front there’s a 1.6-liter TDI available in 90HP and 105HP guises.

All four engines deliver their power to the front wheels through a manual gearbox, with Audi’s seven-speed dual clutch transmission being available optionally on certain models.

And well, that’s about it for now. Stay tuned for the full reveal on Wednesday.