Wednesday 10th November 2010

Quattro Concept And 220hp RS1 Set For Production?

Audi pushes its performance envelope at both ends

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Audi looks as though it will be pushing its performance credentials hard over the next few years, as it appears to be planning an RS1 version of the Audi A1 and is edging closer to a green light for the Quattro concept..

Actually, we already know that Audi is preparing a hot all-wheel-drive version of the A1, and is working with VW to develop a four-wheel-drive version of the group's PQ25 platform to underpin both a Polo R and the hot A1. What is news to us is that, according to German car mag Auto Bild, the fast A1 will be called RS1 rather than S1.

When it hits the market in early 2012, expect the RS1 (and thus probably also the Polo R) to hit the streets with about 220bhp.

The webosphere, meanwhile, is building up a fever pitch of excitement at the faster end of the hot Audi scale over the possibility that the rather lovely Audi Quattro Concept could reach production. Exactly in what guise this will be remains somewhat of a mystery, however.

VW Group CEO Martin Winterkorn has told Motor Trend that "I want to do it" but that it would cost £350m to adapt the RS5 platform. Winterkorn apparently sees the car as a full range with multiple engine options, and is after an annual volume of around 35,000 cars a year to keep the price at sensible levels.

Audi boss Rupert Stadler, meanwhile, is said to be more keen to make the Quattro as a one-model, low-volue special, saving tooling costs, but inevitably pushing the car's price up significantly.

[Mermaid]

Under 1200kgs hopefully.

[Fish]

Manual box NOT THE FLAPPY THING....Hatefull. Oh and quattro..

hmmmmm...quattro RS1 with gear stick

[Antj]

come on,


RS1 and only 220bhp. I seriously dount it, why ruin their flagship sports badge with something that can be beaten by a lot of modern day diesels.

If its badged RS 1 i'll eat my keayboard. 100% gurarantee it will be badged S1 with hotter version appearing later

[M666 EVO]

Is it me or does it (in the bottom picture) look like the Prodrive bonkers rally type thing that Clarkson drove on TG???

[teen_cerbera]

Why make an RS1 and not an RS3?

[benjalex]

M666 EVO said:

Is it me or does it (in the bottom picture) look like the Prodrive bonkers rally type thing that Clarkson drove on TG???

You're not wrong there! That was a fantastic car if I remember correctly.

[Escort Si-130]

RS3 is coming out soon.

BTW PH, you do know Auto Bild is the German equivalent of Auto Express. Any stories from these mags you have to take with a pinch of salt at times.

teen_cerbera said:

Why make an RS1 and not an RS3?

[c0ldpl4ya]

I think its good news, will be a great second hand buy the rs1 ans polo R especially. Will be in the market for a car like this by the time they are in production so cant wait to see them!

[ganser]

Calling it an RS1 doesn't seem right. RS should be retained for big-guns, not a small hatchback

[Dr G]

Even if that hatchback is wielding a kalashnikov?

[wab172uk]

220BHP? That's ok in an S1, but not an RS1.

An RS1 should not just beat the opposition, but pound them into submission. 265bhp would be better for an RS1.

[MintyChris]

I agree with 220bhp being a very good figure for an S1. Considering they are just as light as a clio now it should go quite well.

Also the VW's R range equals Audis S range. So would be silly to have a VW R matching an Audi RS.

Edited by MintyChris on Wednesday 10th November 13:26

[bakerjuk]

Antj said:

come on,


RS1 and only 220bhp. I seriously dount it, why ruin their flagship sports badge with something that can be beaten by a lot of modern day diesels.

If its badged RS 1 i'll eat my keayboard. 100% gurarantee it will be badged S1 with hotter version appearing later

+1 agreed. No way will they release an RS before the S. they will milk the market for all they can get from a lower "performance" model first, then upsell the hardcore fans to an RS later and keep the platform alive longer thereby maximising their return.

[Gren]

Definitely seems more of an S1 to me but maybe they don't want to use that name again?

Audi also usually don't like making too many RS cars at once. The 2 at the moment is more than usual. I agree that something like this could really dilute the brand unless it was something special and I really can't see them drift too far from the formula.

[soad]

bks what the article says- S1 more like it, RS1 to follow up later (with more bhp).

Quattro Concept =

[FamilyDub]

MintyChris said:

I agree with 220bhp being a very good figure for an S1

^^^ +1

Frankly If they do build either an RS3 or an RS1 it will dilute the value and rarity of the RS moniker.

Not saying they wouldn't be good, or sell well... Just be putting profit before common sense.

[P4ROT]

FamilyDub said:

MintyChris said:

I agree with 220bhp being a very good figure for an S1

^^^ +1

Frankly If they do build either an RS3 or an RS1 it will dilute the value and rarity of the RS moniker.

Not saying they wouldn't be good, or sell well... Just be putting profit before common sense.

+1 an RS1, RS3 and RS5 but no RS version of the R8?

[FamilyDub]

^^^ it's a bad day when there is a RS1 but no B8 RS4

[V88Dicky]

benjalex said:

M666 EVO said:

Is it me or does it (in the bottom picture) look like the Prodrive bonkers rally type thing that Clarkson drove on TG???

You're not wrong there! That was a fantastic car if I remember correctly.

Prodrive P2?

[ukwill]

Escort Si-130 said:

RS3 is coming out soon.

Yeah. Course it is...