It’s no bigger than a Volkswagen Polo, but its 2,0-litre turbocharged FSI produces 170 kW and 370 N.m, figures which eclipse those of a Golf GTI. It comes with a snappy six-speed manual ‘box only – but at least buyers can choose between three- and five-door configurations. So, if the Audi A1 1,4T S-line is too tame for your liking, the S1 and S1 Sportback, which will be available locally in December, should blow your socks off!
Audi claims acceleration figures from zero to 100 km/h of only 5,8 seconds for the S1 and 5,9 seconds for the S1 Sportback with a top speed of 250 km/h. Torque will be sent to all four corners courtesy of the Quattro drivetrain; 17-inch five-parallel-spoke design alloy wheels will be standard and the front brake discs are upgraded to 310 mm units.
The S sports suspension is fitted, of course, as well as a Progressive Steering system with dynamic ratio-adjustment. In terms of specification, the S1’s list will be similar to that of the 1,4T S-line, but Xenon Plus headlamps and LED rear tail lamps are fitted, as well as Bluetooth connectivity with audio streaming and Audi’s Drive Select system.
As can be seen in the pictures, S1 models feature a host of beefier exterior addenda, not least the quartet of exhaust tips. To make its cabin distinctive from those of lesser A1 models, the S1’s pedals have brushed stainless steel finishes, each of the partial-leather sport seats are embossed with an S1 logo, the instrumentation has grey backgrounds, and the steering wheel is flat-bottomed, as is the case with other Audi S models.
That does not mean that the S1 cannot be specced further, however. Eighteen-inch rims and tyres, red brake callipers, keyless entry and start, the MMI navigation plus with fold-out colour monitor or the BOSE surround sound system could all be added.
The S1 models’ prices will only be made official at launch early in December, but according to a spokesman for Audi South Africa, the three-door is likely to cost approximately R450 000 and the Sportback model will be slightly more.
Video courtesy: WorldCarFans.com
