If you know the history of the Audi S1, then you know what a big deal it is, when I say that the German company is reviving the brand and making a road-going version of it. In the 1980's the S1 garnered quite a reputation and it was the car that helped the brand dominate the World Rally Championship.
Indeed it is the fiery pocket-rocket cousin of the A1 and Audi will be presenting both the S1 and S1 Sportback which will also add to the entry-level version of the S model portfolio. "The Audi S1 offers all the virtues of a sports car, great performance, direct handling and permanent quattro drive that puts the power to the road in a superior way," says Prof. Dr. Hackenberg, Audi Board Member for Technical Development, adding: "The quattro drive has a large following of fans, which is sure to become even larger thanks to the offering in this segment."
Under the hood, the S1 gets a high-performance four-cylinder unit. The 2.0-litre TFSI fitted with a turbocharger develops 231bhp and produces up to 370 Nm of torque. Like all Audi S models, the S1 and the S1 Sportback also come with the quattro permanent all-wheel drive.
The 2.0-litre engine propels the S1 from 0-100km/h in 5.8 seconds and boasts of a top speed of 250 km/h. The suspension on the two compact sport models has been extensively revamped as well.
Both the S1's are instantly recognizable as the flagship models in the A1 model line but Audi has given them all-new xenon plus headlights while the LED rear lights come with new, horizontally structured graphics.
A host of details - particularly on the front and rear bumper, the side sills and the exhaust system - make the S1 more striking to look at. Inside you get the Audi connect module including car phone that provides a connection to the Internet, allowing passengers to access the Internet and send e-mails on their mobile devices via a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Both the S1's look absolutely stunning and we will see both the cars at the Geneva Motorshow in March.
