AUDI has announced a speedy new quattro four-wheel drive version of its A1 supermini – the Audi S1. The new car will be available as a three-door hatch or five-door Sportback.
Powered by a 2.0-litre TFSI engine producing 231PS and 370Nm of torque, the S1 can get from rest to 62mph in just 5.8 seconds. Top speed is 155mph but combined fuel consumption is a creditable 40.3mpg. CO2 emissions are 162g/km. All figures are for the three-door model.
At the heart of any quattro model, of course, is the four-wheel drive system.
In this case, that means a hydraulic multi-plate clutch in the rear axle operated by software designed to suit the sporty character of an S quattro model. The electronic “differential lock” is actually a function of the Electronic Stabilisation Control system.
The S1 also gets sportier suspension and steering than standard A1 models, as well as an uprated braking system with bigger discs. Seventeen-inch alloys are standard, with eighteens available as an option. Xenon plus headlamps are fitted too.
