Monday 13th September 2010

Official (Sort Of): Hot Audi A1 Set For Paris

'S1' enigmatically listed as one of Audi's Paris exhibits, but Ingolstadt remains otherwise tight-lipped

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Audi's recent nod-to-rallying A1 concept

The all-but-inevitable hot version of the Mini-rivalling Audi A1 looks like it could be heading for reality, as Audi has listed an 'S1' as one of its exhibits for the forthcoming Paris motor show.

We don't know as yet whether this represents a concept, a full production car, or a production car that's been thinly disguised as a concept, however.

No technical details of the S1 have been revealed either, although the smart money is on the installation of the same 1.4-litre 177bhp turbocharged and supercharged motor that serves in the Polo GTI, Fabia vRS and Ibiza Cupra.

Given its exalted position within the VW Group corporate hierarchy, Audi might just be allowed to squeeze a little more poke out of the engine, but it will for now remain a solely front-wheel drive proposition.

That's not to say the A1 won't ever get quattro'd: as PH editor Chris-R - ever the news hound - found out at the A1's launch, the all-wheel drive running gear from the A3 will slot into the A1, as will its more powerful turbocharged engines.

It's just that Audi isn't sure there's a market for such a car. Our advice? Send your pleas for a really fast A1 to Audi now...

[B10]

So an expensive Polo GTI or Fabia in drag. Not that exciting then.

[MrTappets]

So you can have the Polo/Fabia/Ibiza or basically the same thing for several grand more? I guess they're really relying on the badge and allure of some real metal on the dashboard for this one.

[edo]

Audi. Please do this:

Lots of weight saving.
Quattro.
265bhp s3 engine, or even better the 5 cyl RS TT 340bhp engine please!
RS4 bucket seats.

Ta.

[Twincam16]

No-one will take this seriously unless it has four-wheel-drive. An IRC entry wouldn't go amiss either.

[Escort Si-130]

And when it comes out with a hefty price tag would you buy it? People on here would slate it as usual and ssy I can buy 2 or 3 car X for that money and end up with 100bhp more etc.

edo said:

Audi. Please do this:

Lots of weight saving.
Quattro.
265bhp s3 engine, or even better the 5 cyl RS TT 340bhp engine please!
RS4 bucket seats.

Ta.

[Beanoir]

Twincam16 said:

No-one will take this seriously unless it has four-wheel-drive. An IRC entry wouldn't go amiss either.

Correction: YOU may not take it seriously, but plenty of people will, the likes that also take Mini Coopers, Warm Hatch Cirtoens, Fiat Arbath etc seriously. It may not be a power monster with 4WD, but that doesn't mean it won't have a place in a particular segmet of a very serious market.

[Twincam16]

Beanoir said:

Twincam16 said:

No-one will take this seriously unless it has four-wheel-drive. An IRC entry wouldn't go amiss either.

Correction: YOU may not take it seriously, but plenty of people will, the likes that also take Mini Coopers, Warm Hatch Cirtoens, Fiat Arbath etc seriously. It may not be a power monster with 4WD, but that doesn't mean it won't have a place in a particular segmet of a very serious market.

But surely the VW Polo GTI already has this sewn up? This car would have no USP.

[Beefmeister]

When the 122bhp 1.4 comes in decently specced at c.£20k, what in the world in the S1 going to cost?!

My guess is £25k, which is a damn sight more than the much more powerful, dynamically better, and better looking Cooper S JCW.

Absurd.

[Greenpis]

As said, it will appeal to certain set of buyers, for who the badge engineering is attractive.

Good looking little motor though.

[va1o]

How about an RS1 with the S3 2.0T 270bhp engine and quattro AWD? Now that would be a hot hatch!

[dr_rallye]

This car needs the 4wd and decent output. A charged 1600 engine would align it nicely for the new IRC/WRC spec and differentiate it from the normal cars and allow VAG to charge a higher price....

[Beanoir]

Twincam16 said:

Beanoir said:

Twincam16 said:

No-one will take this seriously unless it has four-wheel-drive. An IRC entry wouldn't go amiss either.

Correction: YOU may not take it seriously, but plenty of people will, the likes that also take Mini Coopers, Warm Hatch Cirtoens, Fiat Arbath etc seriously. It may not be a power monster with 4WD, but that doesn't mean it won't have a place in a particular segmet of a very serious market.

But surely the VW Polo GTI already has this sewn up? This car would have no USP.

Not for those that want a "premium" badge it hasn't. Much like comparing an S3 to Golf R, although the 2 models are slightly mis-aligned in terms of timing but you get my point.

[A.S.H]

Twincam16 said:

Beanoir said:

Twincam16 said:

No-one will take this seriously unless it has four-wheel-drive. An IRC entry wouldn't go amiss either.

Correction: YOU may not take it seriously, but plenty of people will, the likes that also take Mini Coopers, Warm Hatch Cirtoens, Fiat Arbath etc seriously. It may not be a power monster with 4WD, but that doesn't mean it won't have a place in a particular segmet of a very serious market.

But surely the VW Polo GTI already has this sewn up? This car would have no USP.

The USP is that it is not a Polo gti it is an Audi and for audi fans who like their interiors nicely designed and love their VDT thats enough.

[SleeperCell]

If Audi doesn't slot in S3 running gear then one of the German tuning companies will

[mainaman]

va1o said:

How about an RS1 with the S3 2.0T 270bhp engine and quattro AWD? Now that would be a hot hatch!

It would cost 35k after options,for this money the badge crowd would prefer the S3 or the TTS,while the enthusiasts would prefer an Exige,Evo,Focus RS,etc.

Besides the S1 would be fast enough for most:1200 kg,190-200 BHP on the dyno,6.8s;only the dinky rocket that is the JCW would be faster in this class!

[wab172uk]

edo said:

Audi. Please do this:

Lots of weight saving.
Quattro.
265bhp s3 engine, or even better the 5 cyl RS TT 340bhp engine please!
RS4 bucket seats.

Ta.

as above. I'd buy one.

[va1o]

dr_rallye said:

This car needs the 4wd and decent output. A charged 1600 engine would align it nicely for the new IRC/WRC spec and differentiate it from the normal cars and allow VAG to charge a higher price....

True but vw/ audi no longer have any 1.6 petrols, it would be a bit silly to develop a new one just for use in a single car.

[The Hypno-Toad]

Twincam16 said:

Beanoir said:

Twincam16 said:

No-one will take this seriously unless it has four-wheel-drive. An IRC entry wouldn't go amiss either.

Correction: YOU may not take it seriously, but plenty of people will, the likes that also take Mini Coopers, Warm Hatch Cirtoens, Fiat Arbath etc seriously. It may not be a power monster with 4WD, but that doesn't mean it won't have a place in a particular segmet of a very serious market.

But surely the VW Polo GTI already has this sewn up? This car would have no USP.

Its USP will be those little fairy lights at the front. At the moment, thats all that matters to some buyers. And that'll be especially true with this car. Because it will say "Look at me! What recession? I can afford a new Audi! Out of the way poor people!"

Not saying it won't be a good car though.

[AndyM31]

Dont like it and I feel the price would be set too high for it. While looking at the esthetics, the back look a bit like the Fiat 500....

[edo]

Escort Si-130 said:

And when it comes out with a hefty price tag would you buy it? People on here would slate it as usual and ssy I can buy 2 or 3 car X for that money and end up with 100bhp more etc.

edo said:

Audi. Please do this:

Lots of weight saving.
Quattro.
265bhp s3 engine, or even better the 5 cyl RS TT 340bhp engine please!
RS4 bucket seats.

Ta.

Yes, if the price was right!