Audi just announced a limited high-performance edition of the A1: the Audi A1 Quattro. Only 333 units of this new variation of the German hatchback will be produced, with the whole lot scheduled to hit market in the second half of 2012. The car will be powered by the same 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged unit with direct injection equipping Audi S3, with all of its 256 hp delivered to the four wheels through Audi signature Quattro system. This TFSI engine, combined with a super-precise 6-speed transmission, will allow the A1 Quattro to reach a top speed of 245 km/h (152 mph), with a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 5.7 seconds.

The Quattro system works mainly on the front axle and would transfer the torque to the rear in case of low grip or spinning, while the Haldex system is in charge of keeping the fuel consumption low, with Audi claiming an average value of 8.5 l/100km. The model comes with 18″ cast alloy wheels fitted with 225/35 tyres, while upgraded brakes and lower ride height will allow drivers to fully exploit the power of the car with the due confidence.

The ESP has been re-calibrated in order to suit the high performance of the A1 Quattro and make it more fun to drive at the same time, while a new electronically controlled differential lock will avoid unwanted wheelspin. Aesthetically, the car uses a very aggressive look that is quite reminiscent of a few concept cars we have recently seen as well as the various S and RS models put out by the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer. The massive hatch-spoiler is not there just to make the car look evil, it actually serves the purpose to press it down at high speeds, while the new diffuser with integrated chromed mufflers also improves the grip of the car. If you want to delve into Audi A1 Quattro’s specs, you can check the official press release right after the jump.

View the full Audi A1 Quattro photo gallery

Continue reading: Audi introduces the A1 Quattro

....

0 comments

Audi España (Audi Spain) just released a quite entartaining one-minute long commercial featuring two Audi A1 dressed up in FC Barcelona and Real Madrid official colors battling against each other on a landing strip of some undisclosed airport. The video has a perfect timing too as the ‘Clasico’ - which is how the big match between the two football powerhouses is nicknamed in Spain - will take place this coming Sunday.

The move seems to reinforce Audi A1’s bond with the football (soccer) world, as an Audi A1 called Samurai Blue - with the official colors of the Japanese national team - was unveiled just a few days ago at the Tokyo Motor Show. The spot is obviously professionally made and pretty funny, with a sort of surprise ending too. It surely makes for a nice watch.

via | Audi España

....

0 comments

Audi presents the A1 Samurai Blue at the Tokyo Motor Show. This special version of Audi A1 is an unique piece and the money raised with its sale will go to charity. This flashy one-off uses the official colors of the Japanese national football team, whose players are nicknamed Blue Samurai (hence the name). The blue, red and white theme is clearly visible both outside and inside the car, where also the official mascot of the team can be spotted here and there: seats, carmats, central console and air inlets in the cabin (and then some..) all uses the three-tone theme. Exclusive red 18″ wheels complete the outlook of the model.

Audi A1 Samurai Blue is powered by a 1.4-litre TFSI engine developing 122 hp and 200 Nm of maximum torque. This unit pushes the car from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8,9 seconds and provides it with a top speed of 203 km/h (126 mph). A Limited Edition of Audi A1 inspired by the Samurai Blue is rumored to be in the works, and might go on sale next year.

View the full Audi A1 Samurai Blue photo gallery

....

0 comments

In view of its official unveiling at the Tokyo Motor Show in December, Audi released an official video starring the new A1 Sportback, the 5-door version of its successful hatchback that will go on sale worldwide in early 2012. The footage shows many interior and exterior details of the upcoming model, which is not really different from its 3-door sister.

As previously reported, the A1 Sportback will use exactly the same engine range as the ‘regular’ A1: the 1.2 TFSI in power steps of 86 and 122 hp, the turbocharged 1.4 TFSI delivering 185 hp and the 1.6-liter TDI diesel, in power steps of 90 and 105 hp. A more powerful 141 hp 2.0-litre diesel unit will also join the fold at a later time.

View the full Audi A1 Sportback photo gallery

....

0 comments

Audi released details and a large photo gallery of the upcoming Audi A1 Sportback, its new 5-door hatchback that will be officially unveiled in December at the Tokyo Motor Show. Following a number of concept versions, the definitive model will enter the global market in early 2012.

The A1 Sportback will use the same engine range as its 3-door counterpart: the 1.2 TFSI (in power steps of 86 and 122 hp) and 1.4 TFSI (185 hp) turbocharged petrol engines and the 1.6-liter TDI diesel (90 and 105 hp), all of which will be offered in various configurations. A more powerful 141 hp 2.0-litre diesel engine will be added to the A1 line-up in the middle of next year, allowing the diesel A1 to hit the 100 km/h mark in 8.5 seconds whereas the 1.4 TFSI will push the car from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.0 seconds topping out at 227 km/h.

The dimensions of the Sportback remain almost the same as in the three-door model: 3.95 m long, 1.42 m tall and 1.75 m wide with a wheelbase of 2.47 m. The bodywork will be available in 12 different colors in contrast with the roof line – the roof arch, the roof and the roof spoiler – which will come in 3 different colors. Standard equipment will feature air conditioning, split rear seat, remote-controlled central locking system, power-adjustable side mirrors, power windows, chorus radio and a driver’s seat adjustable in height.

View the full Audi A1 Sportback photo gallery

....

0 comments

Photographers have very recently caught on film for the first time what seems to be the new Audi RS1. The car was spotted both on the Nurburgring track (which has become a proper hunting ground for spy shooters by now) and on regular roads in the surrounding areas.

Quattro Gmbh (the well known Audi’s subsidiary specialized in spicing-up Audi cars) is currently testing RS5 Cabrio and RS7 prototypes, therefore it is not much of a surprise to see a RS version of the A1 model around these days. The lack of camouflage doesn’t leave much to the imagination though: the huge wing on the hatchback door is arguably its most evident feature, but we also notice wider side skirts as well as two massive exhaust pipes placed at the two sides of the diffuser.

Although there is no official confirmation on the matter, the RS1 is expected to come with a 250hp turbo charged 4-cylinder engine and it will - of course - have Quattro’s all-wheel drive system.

View the full Audi RS1: spy shots at the Nurburgring photo gallery

....

0 comments

Audi revealed some information concerning the next upgrades for the A1 range, a model which entered the market about a year ago. The first good news is the inclusion of the 2.0 TDI in A1’s engine range. This four-cylinder delivers 143hp and 320Nm of torque and, coupled with a 6 speed manual transmission, can push the car from 0 to 100km in 8.2 seconds and give it 217km/h top speed. Its average consumption is 4,1 litres/100 km, with CO2 emission of 108 g/km.

The second good news is about A1’s current 1.6 TDI engine, which will now use an S-Tronic 7-speed dual clutch gearbox. This combination will allow the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.4 seconds and achieve a top speed of 182 km/h. This version would have an average fuel consumption of 4,2 litres/100 km, with CO2 emission of 110g/km.

The last big news about the A1 is the introduction of the Competition Line package, which will be made available for all versions. This package consists of the competition kit aerodynamics, rear spoiler and a different color for rear-view mirrors and roof arch.

....

0 comments

The Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro on show at the 2011 Worthersee event has got itself a coup and is to appear in the Need for Speed World video game. In this A1 Clubsport video we get a look at how the model was built for the tuning event. It’s a little monster of a vehicle, containing the 2.5-litre, five-cylinder, engine from the RS3 and TT RS, and getting 503 hp in the process. No production run of this model is likely to happen, so we’ll have to content ourselves with the possible 200 hp of the Audi S1 when it’s released.

....

0 comments

That’s a lot of horse power under the bonnet of the A1, but this particular little compact seems like the perfect German car to be taken to the 2011 Worthersee Tour. The Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro is a concept model that previews a future sports version of the A1, which could be the upcoming S1.

While the S1 is unlikely to get this same five-cylinder, 2.5-litre turbo engine from the RS3, Audi knows that its citycar Mini rival needs a little love and attention right now. And 503 hp and 660 Nm of torque should do it. Given the slight 1,300 kg of the A1, with this power and torque, it can now get to 100 km/hr in 3.7 seconds. It has all-wheel drive, a 250 km/hr top speed, carbonceramic brakes and 19-inch wheels with 255/30 tyres front and back.

The style is perfect for a tuning event with Glacier White exterior, carbonfibre reinforced plastic roof, new carbonfibre front air intakes, and a wider stance with new bumpers inspired by the original Audi Quattro. The mirrors are those of the Audi R8, and at the rear we get a spoiler and extractor. Could it be the harbinger of good news for a sporty A1? We hope so, and Audi probably does, too.

Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro

Continue reading: 503-hp Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro

....

0 comments

When the Audi A1 first came out, I was prepared to think it was a cool little Mini fighter on the European car market that could really work for Audi. That was until they slapped in a 1.2-litre engine at launch date and it was all over for me there. Either that, or Europeans are still loyal to what is often considered the original Audi compact - the A3 - because A1 sales have so far been a little disappointing.

According to Car and Driver though, the Audi S1 will fix things in the performance department, as they interpret the A1 with its current horsepower as a more expensive version of other VW group models. In fact, their very words are: “It’s the most expensive and the only premium iteration of a platform that is shared with mundane vehicles like the Škoda Fabia, the SEAT Ibiza, and the ubiquitous VW Polo.”

We’re not sure that’s the reason for the weak A1 sales and we don’t really know where to start in proffering a hypothesis as with Mini sales still raging in Europe, you’d think there would be room for a premium compact in the hearts of Audi fans and non. Car and Driver points out that the quickest Audi A1 is still only 5 hp more powerful than a Fabia RS, Ibiza Cupra and Polo GTI so perhaps that is the reason.

The Audi S1 should reportedly get the Volkswagen GTI 2.0-litre TFSI engine and about 225 hp. It could prove to be the real Mini fighter (we’re talking JCW competition) with Quattro all-wheel drive and a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. And apparently an even hotter RS1 could be on the cards for the future. So while Audi was counting on a stylish premium feel to get its A1 sold, it looks like sheer performance might come to the rescue instead. The only thing that might kill it off is price, but generally speaking Audi buyers aren’t too concerned about that.

....

0 comments

In releasing its 2010 sales results, Audi has decided to focus on an interesting figure: revealing that of all vehicles produced, a total of 437,792 were fitted with all-wheel drive. That gives Audi Quattro models 38 percent of total Audi sales, and clearly the company is happy to indicate that its world-famous 4WD technology gives it an edge over other premium models.

Still, the most models sold with Quattro tech are the Audi Q5 SUVs which makes sense in terms of the type of vehicle. No figures were released as to the other models sold with Quattro so we’re not suprised to find that an SUV takes the title - we’d be more interested to know how many coupé or sedans Audi sells with all-wheel drive tech. Equally unsuprising is the fact that Germany is the number one market for 4WD Audi’s.

Still, the famous Quattro technology is a strong selling point for Audi such that it will expand to other models in the future including the Audi A1, A6, Q3 and the new A3. The latter could prove to be a very interesting model for Audi in terms of commercial significance and we’ll be keeping an eye on how it sells.

....

0 comments

Audi has confirmed that a quattro A1 version will soon be available, with the company claiming that it marks the first time an all-wheel drive model will appear for this segment. Given the confirmation, we expect that A1 S and RS models will have all-wheel technology and not front-wheel drive as previously rumoured.

Audi Quattro technology should appear on the more powerful engine options in the A1 range, and it is expected that the models will have the same system as the Audi A3 and TT 4×4 models. Haldex electronic control should therefore be included, with front and rear distribution to be adjusted in various driving conditions. We could see the Audi A1 Quattro released as early as this year.

....

2 comments