Audi A1 will seed S1 and Sportback

The baby of the Audi family is currently only a three-door hatch but there are big plans to grow the range in coming years. The S1 will come first before the end of this year, with an A1 Sportback all-but confirmed for 2012.

The A1 E-Tron electric car will come later and there is also a chance of everything from an A1-based RS hotrod to a mini SUV. The only A1 body style definitely out of play, according to senior executives in Germany, is a convertible. "This will definitely not come," an Audi engineer tells Carsguide. 

The S1 is confirmed from Audi with a turbocharged engine, most likely from the Volkswagen Polo, and all-wheel drive to continue with the all-paw grip theme of previous S-car models across the range. "First we want to start with the three-door. Further on we are thinking about a five-door in the Sportback," says Holger Baumann, the A1 project leader.

Audi has already been busy exploiting the customisation potential of the A1, producing everything from a hunkered-down hotrod concept - with matt-black bodywork and flames down the side - to a retro tribute to the original Quattro rally car in 1980 and even cars suitable for emergency and airport use.

Baumann says a youth push is one of the keys to the success of the A1. "Our target was to make a special Audi and a better entry to the Audi brand for young people," he says. "We aim at very young people who are making their first job, say 27 or 29. And young families."

But he admits Audi has had to re-adjust its sights following the unveiling of the A1. "In the last weeks we have a focus on older people. They like the compact package."