More Audi S1 gossip

There’s been a bit of chatter around the tubes this morning about the Audi S1. Mostly there’s nothing new being said, other than this from Audi boss Ruper Stadler, “Sportiness is a core value for the Audi brand and we have some clear ideas [for the A1] in this direction.”

So, we’re still expecting around 132kW from a twincharged 1.4 litre engine to be powering the front wheels. Like the Polo GTI, there’s been no talk of a manual transmission either, so a 7-speed DSG is likely to be the only option there.

However, one tidbit that has been revealed is that the 155kW 2.0 litre engine found in the Golf GTI, among others, can just squeeze into the engine bay of the A1. That information came via an Audi engineer at the A1’s recent European launch. Were we given an innocent insight into future plans for the S1, or even an über RS1?

AUSmotive has heard a bit of a whisper that quattro has been approved for the A1 platform, but it’s not really much more than a whisper. If the A1 and its derivatives do remain front-wheel drive only, you’d have to think an RS1 model could be ruled out. An “S” model without Audi’s famous all-wheel drive is one thing, but surely they wouldn’t adorn the “RS” badge on a front driver.

[via Top Gear]