Audi S1 News

The 2014 Audi S1 Sportback goes toe-to-toe at Tasmania's Baskerville Raceway by a replica of the Audi S1 quattro Group B rally car.The name Audi S1 quattro immediately brings to mind rallying's most extreme era - Group B.The 370kW+ monster was one of the most powerful cars in its class during the mid-80s and is now the stuff of legend, inspiring a myriad of all-paw turbocharged performance cars since.So knowing the new roadgoing S1 Sportback has a lot to live up to, Audi introduced it in the coolest way possible: letting it loose on Tasmania's Baskerville Raceway with a replica of its legendary namesake.

Audi's pocket-rocket S1 Sportback hits Australian showrooms.The smallest model in Audi's S-badged performance range is now available in Australia for a smidge under $50,000.At $49,900, the S1 might be the least expensive Audi performance model available but it's also one of the priciest vehicles in the light-hatch segment. The Volkswagen Golf R from a class above the S1 is just a few thousand dollars dearer at $51,990, though $10,000 still separates the newcomer from its bigger brother - the Audi S3 Sportback.The S1 uses a 170kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot similar to the one found in the larger S3 model, which is hooked up to a 6-speed manual gearbox and Quattro all-wheel drive.The sprint from 0-100km/h takes 5.9 seconds and combined fuel consumption is 7.1L/100km.There's no automatic transmission option for the S1, and that makes it the only current model Audi to be available exclusively with three pedals and a shifter.It's also the only version of the A1 hatch currently available that isn't front-wheel drive, hence it features a unique four-link rear suspension setup – unlike the torsion beam of lesser A1s -  as well as retuned springs and dampers and a revised steering system.The S1 also comes standard with Audi's magnetic adjustable dampers that can be controlled through the Drive Select program that also adjusts the standard-fit exhaust flaps.The quad-tip exhaust system opens automatically under full throttle or when 'dynamic' mode is selected to produce a sportier note.Standard features on the S1 Sportback include, 17-inch alloy wheels, Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lamps, satnav, Bluetooth phone and audio, 10 speaker audio system and sports seats with 'S1' branding.However, there are also three option packs available, the first of which is dubbed 'S performance package' and costs $4990. This pack adds 18-inch alloys, red front brake calipers, S sport front seats and full leather upholstery, BOSE surround sound system and aluminium-look air-con vents.The $3990 Quattro exterior pack cannot be had in conjunction with the S Performance pack but adds Xenon headlights with red trim, red front brake calipers, 18-inch alloys in matt black, roof spoiler, Quattro side logo and aluminium-look front spoiler lip.The third option pack is the $2490 Quattro interior which includes a center console finished in gloss black, yellow or red, sports seats with back-rest finished in gloss black, yellow or red with Quattro logo, flat-bottom steering wheel, leather door armrests, air vent sleeves in high-gloss black with red inner ring and floor mats in black with contrasting double piping.2014 Audi S1 Sportback list price - $49,900

It’s no secret that Australians buy a higher proportion of high-performance models like BMW’s M, Mercedes-Benz’s AMG and Chrysler and Jeep’s SRT models than most markets, and Audi is taking full advantage of this with its Audi Sport range of models. With an unprecedented seven RS models now available, the R8 supercar and S-badged versions of almost all of its models, the German brand saw a 172.2 per cent increase in local Audi Sport model sales during the 2013 financial year. This resulted in a total of 1121 units, and a shift from 3 to 7 percent of Audi’s record total local volume of 16,009 units.During this same period, BMW’s M models dropped 1 percent, and Mercedes’ AMG rose 34.3 per cent, and the total Audi Sport volume sits between BMW M’s 623 units and Mercedes AMG’s 1650 units.With the subsequent additions of the RS6 Avant, RS5 Cabriolet, S3 Sportback, RSQ3, RS7 Sportback and the upcoming S3 Sedan and S1 hatch, Audi could be a serious threat to AMG’s top-fiddle status.“We have a renewed focus on Audi Sport, and the central theme of this comes from the 30 years of quattro GmbH last year”  Audi’s Australian boss Andrew Doyle says.In addition to the new quattro GmbH-developed Audi Sport models and the brand’s ongoing motorsport activities, Australia has become the second market after the UK to adopt the ‘Audi Sport Sales Concept’, which will see dedicated Audi Sport-themed areas established in several Australian dealerships. These ‘shops within a showroom’ will feature décor based around the Audi Sport red rhombus motif, and showcase a range of merchandise, wheels and accessories.To ensure buyers of RS models appreciate the full breadth of their vehicle’s performance, each will now be invited to participate – free of charge - in the Audi Driver Experience program with driver trainer and ex-Top Gear Australia host Steve Pizzati.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn 

 Audi has unleashed the S1 that will add some pepper to the A1 hatch range, and as expected it will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine delivering 170kW of power and 370Nm of torque.A six-speed manual transmission delivers drive to all four wheels with the brand's quattro system, and although an automatic transmission is likely to be added there's no sign of it just yet.The car will roll out in both three- and five-door bodies (the latter badged the S1 Sportback), and as shown in the images leaked earlier today it's turned up the sporty dial with aggressive styling.Large air intakes, red accents in the headlight clusters, a rear hatch spoiler and quad exhausts all signal purpose, while the standard 17-inch wheels -- which can be optioned up an extra inch -- get 310mm front discs.The cabin features sports seats with a nappa leather option, stainless steel pedals, S-line gunmetal instruments and a 6.5-inch retracting colour screen.Audi is claiming a 0-100km/h time of 5.8 seconds for the three-door and 5.9 seconds for the five-door, with both electronically limited to a 250km/h top speed.The cars will go on sale in Europe almost immediately after the Geneva motor show debut next month, with pricing in the UK kicking off at the equivalent to about $45,000. Audi Australia has this evening officially confirmed the five-door S1 will be arriving here in the third quarter of this year, at a price of about $50,000.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

Audi will be officially taking the wraps off the eagerly-anticipated S1 tomorrow, but an image leaked onto the internet is already giving a good idea of what to expect.The pocket rocket version of the A1 has been given aggressive looks, with large air intakes in the strongly-styled front bumper, black-framed mesh grille, gunmetal mirror housings and red accents in the headlight clusters. The bodykit includes pronounced side skirts and a rear-hatch mounted spoiler.As expected, in addition to the S1 badging it sports the quattro decal that tells us it's underpinned by Audi's all-wheel drive system. Drivetrain details will be revealed tomorrow, but look for a turbo 2.0-litre four-cyllinder engine under the bonnet -- with outputs of 170kW of power and 370Nm of torque -- mated to a six-speed manual and possibly a seven-speed dual clutch auto.The engine is tipped to be a detuned version of the one carried by the larger and heavier S3, with the S1 hopefully still able to near its bigger sibling's 0-100km/h times of 5.4 seconds manual and 5.0 for the auto.The A1 range is currently topped by the Sport version at $39,990, so the S1 is likely to sit somewhere in the mid-to-high 40s. 

The German carmaker is drip-feeding glimpses of a mystery car, with the second video tease giving a quick look at the roofline -- confirming it's a hardtop, and resembling the lines of the A1 and the S1 we've seen previously in spy shots.Audi is revealing the car on February 12, and is expected to be heading for a Geneva show stand with the S1, which will add a performance focus to the A1 line-up after the brand ruled out any suggestion of developing an RS (race sport) version.It's likely to arrive in overseas showrooms later this year as a 2015 model in both three- and five-door versions -- and the video suggests the three-door will be the focus of the unveiling -- dressed up with S-Line cues in the form of stronger bumper styling, rear spoiler and quad exhausts.Under the bonnet is tipped to be a detuned version of the S3's turbocharged 206kW/380Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder -- with power dropped to around 170kW for the smaller and lighter S1 -- and transmission choices a six-speed manual or six-speed dual clutch driving all four wheels.Performance speculations shouldn't be too far off the mark with expectations of equalling or bettering the S3's 0-100km/h time of 5.4 seconds manual and 5.0 for the auto.  

Audi has previously ruled out the prospect of building a super-hot RS-line (racing sport) version of its baby A1. But we could get to see the next best thing at Geneva, with the German prestige brand tipped to be unveiling an S1.The baby hottie is likely to go on sale in Europe just a few months after the show unveiling in March, in both three and five-door versions sporting an S-Line body kit with more aggressive bumper treatment, rear spoiler and quad exhaust tips.The little hot hatch is said to be powered by a detuned version of the turbocharged 206kW/380Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine from the S3, likely delivering about 170kW for the S1, with the same choices of a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual clutch driving four wheels with Audi's quattro system.In the S3, those combinations give a 0-100km/h time of 5.4 seconds manual and 5.0 for the auto, and you can expect around the same -- or better -- in the logically lighter S1.The S1 will slot in above the $39,900 Audi A1 Sport, but will want to be strategically priced against the hot hatch benchmark $41,490 VW Golf GTI in a tough field that includes everything from the Mini Cooper JCW to Ford Fiesta and Focus STs and Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

…as this Carparazzi shot proves. It's the first picture of the upcoming S1 - obvious from the air intakes, deeper bumpers and double-barrel exhaust - which will be powered by a 165 kiloWatt turbo engine. But will the S1 stay as a front-drive car to leave space for an RS1?

It has a pumped out body and the giant wheels you expect of an S-Car, and is likely to come with a turbo engine. The big question is if Audi will continue the all-wheel drive requirement for its S-cars with the hotrod from the A1 family.