Tag: Audi S1

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Audi

Born again Audi S1 now expected in 2013

Audi A1 quattro prototype

The on-again, off-again Audi S1 is currently enjoying a promising run in the on-again hemisphere, a place it is now likely to remain. Indeed, Auto motor und sport reckon the S1 will be launched in 2013.

Other nuggets of information from our German friends include:

  • Suggestions the S1 will cost less than €30,000 (for reference a Golf GTI starts from a shade over €27,000).
  • The current S1 development mule that’s been thrashed around Canada is said to have 186hp (140kW), but there might be a few more horses yet to be discovered.
  • The quattro system will be based on the Haldex unit used in the RS3, with some minor modifications for packaging purposes.

In other A1-realted news, it’s expected a 5-door Sportback version will debut next year, with a convertible version to follow in 2013. A not-quite-an-e-tron hybrid A1 is also being planned.

[Source: Auto motor und sport via The German Car Blog]

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Audi Volkswagen

Polo R back from the dead to join Audi S1

Volkswagen Polo R

British publication Autocar brings news that the stillborn Volkswagen Polo R is now likely to be revived. This follows recent news that the future of an all-wheel drive Audi S1 is now looking very good.

The theory being the Volkswagen Group PQ25 platform, on which the Polo and A1 are built, will be more cost-effective if more models are able to utilise all-wheel drive. Of course, this means the Polo R would feature an all-wheel drive system too, likely to be developed by Haldex and to wear 4motion branding.

Joining the Polo R and S1 in a third all-paw offering could be the CrossPolo. I guess that means we could see an Audi Q1 in the future, as well.

[Source: Autocar | Rendering: Motor Authority]

Categories
Audi

New info for Audi RS3, RS7 and S1

Audi S1, RS3 and RS7

German publication Auto Bild has published new info and some pricing detail on upcoming Audi models—the RS3, RS7 and S1:

RS3—Rumours and guesswork on when this car will finally see the light of day continue with new suggestions the RS3 will not be launched until the Geneva show in March 2011. Paris could be off, then?! The constant information that does exist is in relation to the engine being sourced from the TT RS; meaning the 250kW 2.5 litre in-line 5 cylinder should have the balls to propel the RS3 to 100km/h in well under 5 seconds. European pricing is expected to be under €50,000.

RS7—Understood to be powered by a new 4.0 litre twin-turbo V8, which will offer 550bhp (410kW) to the world. The RS7 is said to be revealed at the Frankfurt show in September 2011. The car would then go on European sale shortly after at around €110,000.

S1—Just when you thought it was safe to stop thinking about this car a new rumour has emerged. The latest word suggests the 210bhp (155kW) 2.0 litre turbo from the Golf GTI will be stuffed under the bonnet. There’s no mention of quattro from the Auto Bild article, but you can expect that to be included given earlier news regarding the front-wheel drive “S1 lite”.

[Source: Auto Bild via The German Car Blog]

Categories
Audi

Audi S1 faces identity crisis

Audi S1 rendering

Contradiction and confusion are the order of the day in regards to the future of the Audi S1. It seems certain that an A1-based model with a 1.4 TFSI engine producing in the order of 130kW driving the front wheels only will be made. But what badge will it wear? Will this be the first “S” badged Audi that does not include an all-wheel drive quattro system?

According to Autocar, yes it will. On Tuesday they reported, “Audi has officially confirmed this month’s Paris motor show as the location for the launch of its new S1 hot hatch. The S1 will be front-wheel drive, making it the first S-badged Audi to do without a quattro drivetrain.”

Sounds pretty definitive, right. Well, on Wednesday Australian media outlet carsales published an equally confident report stating, “Audi has tried to quietly kill off its upcoming S1 just weeks before its scheduled launch in southern France.

“Insiders have revealed that while the car will still be built, it will be stripped of its S1 badges and will be known as an A1 1.4 TFSI instead.

“The final nail in its coffin was that Volkswagen Group boss Martin Winterkorn didn’t want its front-wheel drive status diluting an ‘S’ car line up that has been, up to now, exclusively all-wheel drive.”

The no quattro, no “S” badge theory does make sense. What doesn’t make sense is the number of interwebz articles confirming the launch of an S1 at Paris and just one report stating it won’t be happening. If you see any other reports discussing the cancellation of the S1, please post a link in the comments section below.

[Source: Autocar & carsales]

Categories
Audi

Fresh Audi S1 spy shots

Audi S1 prototype

This otherwise innocent looking Audi A1 is believed to be a near production ready S1 pocket rocket. Apart from the images, there’s no new speculation from our last update posted in June, except to suggest the official reveal of the S1 could take place at the Paris Motor Show in October.

According to the photographer who took these pics, near Germany’s famous Nürburgring, the note from the exhaust was a bit “heartier” than other A1 models. A thought confirmed by the appearance of larger exhaust pipes at the rear.

More pics after the break.

[Source: Autoblog]

Continue reading “Fresh Audi S1 spy shots”
Categories
Audi

More Audi S1 gossip

Audi S1 rendering

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]

Categories
Audi

Audi S1 European pricing accidentally published

Audi S1 rendering

According to reports Audi Spain have inadvertently revealed European pricing for the upcoming Audi S1. This happened when a price list for the full A1 range was published and showed the S1 would have a starting price of €28,360 (approx AU$42,600).

This is interesting from an Australian perspective because the S1 would need to enter the market at around that price point. A $40K+ figure puts it firmly in Golf GTI territory. Although, such a figure would price the car roughly in line with the MINI Cooper S. The MINI John Cooper Works is in the $50K+ price bracket, and can be taken well north of that depending on the number of options chosen.

At this stage there doesn’t appear to be any further news from last week’s info that came wrapped in Polo R packaging.

That means we’re expecting the S1 to be driven by its front-wheels only. It will have a 136kW 1.4 litre twincharged engine and will only be available with a 6 speed S tronic transmission. Apparently space constraints prohibit the fitment of a conventional manual box.

[Source: TopSpeed.com]

Categories
Audi

Fade from red to blue

Audi S1 Photoshop

It’s about six weeks now since the Audi A1 was first seen in official images. But speculation over a cooking S1 model has been around for well over 12 months. And here’s some more S1 educated guesswork in the form of a Photoshopped rendering. After the jump you can see a video of how this car was “made”. It’s a fascinating look at some mad PS skillz.

[Source: TopGear]

Continue reading “Fade from red to blue”
Categories
Audi

Yes, quattro for Audi S1?

2011 Audi S1 rendering

Hmm, someone is telling porkies. Well, at least, that appears to be the case following a new report from Motor Authority that says Audi’s new S1 will have a quattro drivetrain. Regular readers will remember last month’s report speculation from Auto Bild that the A1 platform, and the S1 with it, would be only available in a front-wheel drive configuration.

Now, though, we’re back to the quattro rumour. This is good. Even more good, if you’ll pardon the expression, is a repeat of the suggestion the all-wheel drive unit will be tuned for a 40:60 rear bias split.

Otherwise, the two reports agree on most everything else. That means the car will have a 1.4 litre engine offering between 140-150kW, thanks to a bit of forced induction. Torque is expected to be a healthy 250Nm, pushing the car along to 100km/h sprint time under six seconds. Amazingly, the little S1 may even wear 19″ shoes. I guess the car’s flared guards will help house such big feet if this guess work proves true.

Other developments reveal that Audi’s S range will begin to increase the visual differences over their donor models. This will be done with further use of aluminium inside the cabin. It has been said that Audi are likely to splash a bit carbon fibre about the place, as well.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Categories
Audi

No quattro for Audi S1?

Audi S1 rendering

Earlier hopes of a hotted up all-wheel drive Audi A1, likely to wear Audi’s hallowed S1 badge, ready to take it up to the MINI John Cooper Works could be dashed.

Back in January Auto Express told us of Audi’s plans to build a 200hp S1 fitted with a rear-biased quattro drivetrain. Now, new details suggest that Audi’s quattro system will not be found on any A1-based car. A real sense of irony, then, that the 21st century S1 appears to be FWD only.

According to a recent article from German website AutoBild the A1 will utilise a solely front-wheel drive platform and is due for its first major reveal, in coupé form only, at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Market release for the three door will follow some time around September 2010. Sales of the five-door Sportback model would commence in late 2011, with plans for a cabrio version to be released in 2012.

Getting back to the feisty S1 model, it is expected to be fitted with a 1.4 TFSI producing around 140kW and 250Nm of torque. Australian customers will get a glimpse of that engine when the next Polo GTI is launched down under in 2010.

The only transmission option available for the S1 would be a 7-speed S tronic. The car should be capable of reaching 100km/h somewhere in the high 6 second range.

The AutoBild piece has quite a lot of interesting tidbits in there. Copy the link below and stick it into your favourite online translator and see just how serious Audi is at taking up the challenge to MINI.

[Source: AutoBild via The German Car Blog]

Categories
Audi

Audi S1 plans all-wheel drive attack on MINI JCW

Audi S1 quattro
Audi S1 quattro

AutoExpress has again led with images that will excite hot hatch enthusiasts. News has been around for a while about the Audi S1, but initial speculation suggested the S1 would be powered by the 2-litre turbo found in the current Mk5 Golf GTI. This latest report says the S1 will be powered by a 200bhp+ 1.4-litre twin charge engine, similar to the one used in the new Polo GTI. Of course, the S badging means the S1 will get that power to the ground using Audi’s familiar quattro technology.

From an Australian perspective, the spunky S1 looks to be the only car to match the MINI John Cooper Works in both driving thrills and desirability. While the feisty Renault Clio 197 might push both cars to the limit on tight mountain roads, it can’t match the cachet of either brand, let alone the build quality.

The aggressively styled S1 looks sensational and I, for one, can’t wait to test the car’s driving capabilities. I will have to wait a while though. The A1, the car on which the S1 will be based, is still over 12 months away from European release, so we’re likely to be looking at late 2011, at best, for the S1 to reach Australian shores.

Along with the supercharged and turbocharged technology of the engine, the S1 is said to showcase more of Audi’s gadgets, such as full LED lighting, a 7-speed S-tronic transmission and magnetic ride suspension, which will be electronically adjustable from inside the cabin. Most surprising, however, is the claim the quattro system will have a rearward bias, sending up to 60 per cent its power to the rear wheels under regular conditions.

Premium products command premium pricing, of course, so don’t expect much change from AU$55,000 by the time time you drive the S1 off the showroom floor. Something I look forward to doing myself when the opprtunity presents itself.

Source: AutoExpress