Audi S1 and S1 Sportback makes global debut
Audi has introduced a new performance flagship for the A1 family with the three-door S1 and five-door S1 Sportback making their global debuts. The new variant revives a name once made famous back in the 1980s during a time when Audi dominated the World Rally Championship thanks to its prowess with all-wheel drive technology.
Fittingly, both the modern-day S1 and S1 Sportback continue to pay tribute to their roots by having drive going to all-fours through a permanent all-wheel drive system with a hydraulic multi-plate clutch at the rear axle. It is worth noting that the regular A1, based upon the Volkswagen Polo, sported a torsion beam rear suspension which had to be swapped out for an independent four-link set up in order to accommodate the S1’s quattro AWD.
Powering the S1 and S1 Sportback is a 2.0-litre turbocharged TFSI engine, which develops 231hp and 370Nm, and mated to it is a standard 6-speed manual transmission. Top speed is capped at 250kph and the century sprint is completed at 5.8 and 5.9 seconds for the S1 three-door and Sportback respectively. Fuel consumption is rated at 7.0 and 7.1 l/100km, with carbon dioxide emissions rated at 162 and 166 g/km.
Distinguishing it from regular variants of the A1, both variants of the S1 feature all-new front and rear light clusters plus a host of styling details along the bumpers, side sills and exhaust. Customers can further opt for what is called a quattro exterior package that comes with a large roof spoiler among other items. Inside, dark tones dominate the interior of the S1, although the optional quattro interior styling package can be checked to add ‘striking colour accents’.
The S1 and S1 Sportback will hit German dealerships in the second quarter of 2014, with prices at €29,950 and €30,800 respectively.
KON
Pictures: Official Audi release.
