Audi has officially presented the meanest and baddest production version of its A1 series yet, aptly called the A1 Quattro. Both its name and styling details such as the white colored alloy wheels clearly draw on Audi's rallying heritage. The first ever quattro version of Audi's premium supermini, which was previously thought to be named RS 1, will be produced in a limited run of just 333 units with sales to start in the second half of 2012.
Powering Ingolstadt's hot hatch is a tuned 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection and turbocharging technologies that produces 256HP at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque of 350 Nm (258.2 lb-ft) continuously available between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm.
The 2.0 TFSI is couple to a six-speed manual gearbox and Audi's quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. Audi says the A1 quattro sprints from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in 5.7 seconds and has a top speed of 245km/h (152mph), while it consumes on average less than 8.5 lt/100km (27.7 US mpg).
The German firm says its engineers adapted the chassis to the dynamics of the drivetrain with the A1 Quattro featuring McPherson struts up front and a four-link axle at the rear. The hot hatch also gets an electrohydraulic power steering with a direct 14.8:1 steering ratio, while the ESP stabilization program includes a sport mode and can be switched off entirely.
The Quattro rides on new 18-inch, center-locking cast alloy wheels in a bespoke turbine design wrapped in 225/35-series tires.
Available exclusively in a Glacier White metallic with a high-gloss black finish for the roof and details such as the single-frame grille and lower half of the tailgate, the A1 Quattro is fitted with a new aero kit that includes a different front bumper with larger air vents, side skirts, a roof wing and a rear diffuser. It also gets tinted LED rear lights, tinted rear windows, and bespoke twin tail pipes.
The interior of the car is dressed in Nappa black leather with contrasting red seams, while standard features include a pair of body hugging sports seats, a flat bottom sports steering wheel, aluminum gear shift lever and pedals, and a revised instrument panel.
More details on the A1 Quattro will be released next year.
