A1/S1 Official: Audi A1

[Zafiro]

Iv'e got an invitation to take the A1 for a testdrive. Not sure I have the time though.

 

[DaSilva]

Iv'e got an invitation to take the A1 for a testdrive. Not sure I have the time though.

you should. It does bring something new to the segment. You get the idea
when you try it out, Trust me. and besides I really want to hear
your opinion on this car! hehe

 

[donkeykong]

 

[DaSilva]

LOL

I can't order, cancel then order agian, then cancel,
buy A1 buy S1 buy RS1 ...

C'mon ...

Well well.. it's after all good news.
If I should pick/buy the perfect 1'er it would be RS1 quattro Sportback.

 

[Deleted member 1071]

A gorgeous little car. I looked at one today in the showroom of my local Audi dealer. A dark grey metallic with light silver pillar arches, 17" 5-spoke light silver/titanium 2-tone wheels and an anthracite interior. I actually prefer it to the Mini. With the new 180 HP engine, it would be quite ideal for those not needing a larger automobile while still subscribing to a "premium" offering.

 

[donkeykong]

LOL

I can't order, cancel then order agian, then cancel,
buy A1 buy S1 buy RS1 ...

C'mon ...

Well well.. it's after all good news.
If I should pick/buy the perfect 1'er it would be RS1 quattro Sportback.

Your funny yo.

 

[footie]

I was just going to post those pictures. Anyway here's the full article.

Audi A1 Quattro Revealed!

Audi's famous name returns will all-new flagship A1, promising the pace and looks to live up to the rally legend.

Auto Express Car Reviews

Text: Tom Philips / Photos: Miroslav

18th October 2010


The S1 Quattro lives again! Audi is set to resurrect the name of its firebreathing world rally champ from the Eighties for a spectacular performance flagship of the A1. And purists needn’t worry – because the newcomer will pack plenty of power, style and, of course, the quattro four-wheel-drive system that made the original such a success.

Audi had considered using the name for the 182bhp 1.4 T version of the A1, revealed at the recent Paris Motor Show. But it backtracked at the last minute, fearing that the model’s two-wheel-drive layout would put off customers loyal to the brand.

Instead, bosses have decided to develop a new S1 alongside the Polo R, which is being readied by VW’s performance division in Germany. The cars will share underpinnings, to keep costs down, while VW may also add the scaled-down four-wheel-drive technology to its rugged CrossPolo and subsidiary Skoda’s Fabia Scout to further increase economies of scale.

But the full, sophisticated version of the quattro system will be reserved for the S1. And the car will continue Audi’s recent push to use innovations from its larger models on smaller products – the S1’s 4WD will have the option of the torque vectoring rear sport differential from the 
S4 and RS5, which promises agile handling.

Engine choices are still being considered, although the 1.4 TFSI from the current flagship won’t be used. Instead, to distance the S1 from the rest 
of the line-up, Audi is likely to employ one of the VW Group’s larger petrol turbos, which currently power the Golf GTI in 2.0-litre form and the top-spec Skoda Yeti in 1.8-litre tune.

A further option is a new 1.6-litre unit. Audi has already said it won’t return to rallying, but VW is planning an entry with a car prepared by a new team set up by Spanish former WRC ace Carlos Sainz. This is likely to be based on the Polo R, and as the sport’s rules dictate that cars be powered by a 1.6-litre turbo, the engine from this model could make it into the S1.

The Audi is likely to deliver around 240bhp – more than the 208bhp of the MINI Cooper S John Cooper Works – and offer scorching performance. The sprint from 0-62mph should take around six seconds, and top speed will be limited to 155mph. A choice of six-speed manual and seven-speed S tronic gearboxes will be available.

Despite the fireworks under the bonnet, the S1 won’t look vastly different to the 1.4 TSI. It will get a unique, deeper front bumper, more pronounced wheelarches to fit larger alloys, a gloss black rear diffuser and special badging. Two-tone paint will also be offered.

The high-spec interior boasts sports seats and a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, plus drilled pedals and carbon fibre trim. The S1 is expected to debut as a concept later next year, before going on sale in 2012, with an anticipated starting price of around £25,000.


​

 

[Centurion]

Great to see torque vectoring making it all the way down to the A1. Hopefully the Quattro model will raise the performance credentials of the car, which although is pretty as the Mini, lacks the heritage and respect.

 

[footie]

Great to see torque vectoring making it all the way down to the A1. Hopefully the Quattro model will raise the performance credentials of the car, which although is pretty as the Mini, lacks the heritage and respect.

We would all like to think of this car as a rival for the Mini but the reality isn't quite like that, the Mini is a niche product that majors of fun and harking back to it's roots where as the A1 is bang up to date with it's styling and functionality. What the S1 will hopefully bring is a bit of soul and excitement to an otherwise brilliant but bland motorcar.

 

[DaSilva]

Thanks footie! Great news... S1 Sportback quattro

 

[footie]

Thanks footie! Great news... S1 Sportback quattro

I can tell you it was a last minute decision to switch from fwd to awd because they original were revealing the 1.4TFSI as the S1 at Paris.

I'm personally not so sure what it will feel like having such a small wheelbased car with awd on the road but one thing is for sure, it will have incredible traction and a blistering turn of speed compared to the competition.

 

[Deleted member 1071]

Some recent press reports have indicated that Audi AG is a bit disappointed with regard to the sales of the A1. BMWs' MINI appears to be outselling it by quite a margin. According to one report, Audi will be moving the introduction date for the 5 door Sportback version of the A1 forward in order to give potential customers a larger variety of cars to choose from.

The A1 is really a very nice car, but its' price is quite steep. Too expensive for the targeted younger demographic. And the MINI apparently commands a very loyal following within in circle of more mature buyers who could afford an A1. A VW Golf is certainly not as "novel" or "rich in character" as an A1 but, at almost the same price, it offers quite a bit more car.

This reminds me a bit of the VW New Beetles' introduction in Germany back in the late 1990s'. A bit of "wow" when first introduced but poor sales due to the car being priced out of the market. It was really poor value for the money at the time.

 

[Auto]

The car is nice but way to overpriced, so I can understand why it's not selling.

Some recent press reports have indicated that Audi AG is a bit disappointed with regard to the sales of the A1. BMWs' MINI appears to be outselling it by quite a margin. According to one report, Audi will be moving the introduction date for the 5 door Sportback version of the A1 forward in order to give potential customers a larger variety of cars to choose from.

The A1 is really a very nice car, but its' price is quite steep. Too expensive for the targeted younger demographic. And the MINI apparently commands a very loyal following within in circle of more mature buyers who could afford an A1. A VW Golf is certainly not as "novel" or "rich in character" as an A1 but, at almost the same price, it offers quite a bit more car.

This reminds me a bit of the VW New Beetles' introduction in Germany back in the late 1990s'. A bit of "wow" when first introduced but poor sales due to the car being priced out of the market. It was really poor value for the money at the time.

 

[Centurion]

Some recent press reports have indicated that Audi AG is a bit disappointed with regard to the sales of the A1. BMWs' MINI appears to be outselling it by quite a margin.

It would have been naive and over optimistic for anyone to assume that the A1 would even be in the vicinity of the Mini's sales figures. The A1 is the new boy in the class and Audi will need to pour heaps of millions into funky marketing campaigns that will enlighten people of the car's existent and awesomeness.

Pricing of the car is premium, but the car does feel very premium. However the car market is flooded with small cars and it's hard to convince people to buy something that appears to look like just another small car. Launching a new car is always a difficulty and I'm sure sales will pick up as awareness of the car increase. A slow start is better than a fad whereby the sales are peak at launch and then slide off like an avalanche after a year or so.

What makes Mini so strong is their marketing. It's world class and Audi should get the car a thriving role in a movie to generate viral buzz and get the car some street creed. I'm still shaking my head over the use of Justin Timberlake as an ambassador for the car. Audi couldn't have picked a more irrelevant celeb, and using Lucy Lu at the launch event of the new A8 was even more cringing. What year are they living in, 2003??

 

[footie]

The odd thing is that many believe the Polo is cheaper than the A1 but when you start to spec them similarly you find that the two end up very close indeed.

 

[Dave1984]

The problem with Audi A1, VW Beetle, Fiat 500, Citroen DS3 is they are just another car in a line-up of a bunch of cars offered by that brand. Although F500 & VW Beetle were once THE Fiat and THE VW, today they are not anymore. THE Fiat is eg. Punto, while THE VW is definitely Golf. While MINI is a separate brand, with all funky models - sipin-offs of the reconstructed original MINI. I guess BMW model below 1-series is going to face similar fate as A1 and others, not repeating the success of MINI.

 

[footie]

Without a doubt both the A1 and the future 1 series (fwd) are/will be a better car than the Mini is overall. But the Mini as a brand, as an image, as a lifestyle it offers something unique in this sector, no other brand is this hip and funky.

Hats off to the marketing team that have promoted the brand over these years, it's them that have made the Mini the strong product it is today.

 

[Deleted member 1071]

I'm still shaking my head over the use of Justin Timberlake as an ambassador for the car. Audi couldn't have picked a more irrelevant celeb, and using Lucy Lu at the launch event of the new A8 was even more cringing. What year are they living in, 2003??

In Germany, Audi AG recruited the services of Tokio Hotel to promote the A1. I wasn't aware that the cars' target demographic was pre-puberal girls.

My sarcasm aside:

Perhaps a wider range of models will help increase the popularity of the A1. The upcoming 5 door Sportback, perhaps a fabric-roofed drop top model. There is also quite a gap between the 122HP and 185HP petrol engine offerings. A version of the 1.4 TSFI with 150/160HP in the A1 may not be a bad idea. Perhaps a more powerful top of the line diesel version as well.

 

[Centurion]

In Germany, Audi AG recruited the services of Tokio Hotel to promote the A1. I wasn't aware that the cars' target demographic was pre-puberal girls.

My sarcasm aside:

Perhaps a wider range of models will help increase the popularity of the A1. The upcoming 5 door Sportback, perhaps a fabric-roofed drop top model. There is also quite a gap between the 122HP and 185HP petrol engine offerings. A version of the 1.4 TSFI with 150/160HP in the A1 may not be a bad idea. Perhaps a more powerful top of the line diesel version as well.

The 5 door won't do much in elevating the coolness of a car. Anyone who wants a utility car wouldn't even look at the Mini or 500 which both predominantly sell in a 3-door configuration. What the 5-door version will achieve is leach a percentage of A3 buyers. I do agree that there is an absurd gap between the engine offerings, but the car is new and new engine choices will probably pop up next year.

Audi had a startling A1 on display at the Paris Motor show this year and in person it was a show stopper. Those types of colours are what Audi should have offered on the showroom floor as opposed to your bog standard range of colour finishes.

 

[SKY]

Just BEAUTIFUL.