A month ago, Audi announced the Audi S1 and the Audi S1 Sportback. Since then the news has been a flurry of news from the Geneva International Motorshow. So let’s take a step back and admire some of the essence of the S1 which Audi hopes to capture in the small car market.
So let’s recap what does this car boast that Audi thinks it will make an impact in the small car category.
There are many cars now in the small car category but if you look at the size itself, it does carve a small niche amongst the competition. For example, normally one would compare this car with the Golf GTI but instead it should be compared with the Polo GTI. Having 231 horses under the hood for a car this size, that is insane!
- 2.0 TFSI with 1,984 cc displacement, dual injection (direct and manifold injection), turbocharging and Audi valvelift system (AVS)
- Thermal management with integrated exhaust manifold in the cylinder head
- Power output 170 kW (231 hp), maximum torque 370 Nm (272.90 lb-ft) from 1,600 to 3,000 rpm
- 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62.14 mph) in 5.8 seconds (S1 Sportback: 5.9 seconds), top speed 250 km/h (155.34 mph)
- Fuel consumption in the NEDC cycle just 7.0 liters per 100 kilometers (33.60 US mpg) (S1 Sportback: 7.1 liters [33.13 US mpg])
The car comes with either the highly efficient six-speed manual gearbox with long-ratio 6th gear or personally, nothing beats the quattro drive with hydraulic multi-plate clutch on the rear axle, electronic management with decidedly sporty characteristics. After using a smooth DSG gearbox, going back to an automatic was really difficult let alone a manual gearbox.
In the handling department we have the following specs below.
- New electromechanical power steering, modified pivot bearings
- New four-link rear axle for maximum handling precision
- Audi drive select dynamic handling system and two-stage adjustable dampers
- High-performance brake system, front disks 310 millimeters (12.20 in) in diameter
- Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC) with two-stage deactivation and wheel-selective torque control
- 17-inch wheels as standard, 18-inch wheels as an option
- Curb weight: 1,315 kilograms (2,899.08 lb) (S1 Sportback: 1,340 kilograms [2,954.19 lb])
