Audi A1 Quattro

What‘s it? There’s been an extended run as much as the Audi A1 Quattro. First we thought the car now unromantically referred to as Audi A1 1. 4 TFSI (with 182bhp ) was likely going to be badged being an S1. There was much talk of 4wd powertrains along with other rumours. Then, almost from the blue, and merely a couple of days before Christmas, Audi revealed the A1 Quattro which it might build only 333 the strategies and all in left-hand drive. Numbers to the UK could be tiny ; quoted as 20 but now right all the way down to 19, all sold. The nineteen have bought an A1 that contains 600 new parts, starting using the 252bhp 2. 0 TFSI engine in the front. The A1’s platform was obviously designed with all-paw drive on your mind because there’s enough space inside the tunnel along which the exhaust runs for any carbon fibre prop shaft to also live. The conventional fuel tank gets inside the way so Audi has replaced it by having an upside down saddle tank, which due to the A1 Quattro’s tiny production run, is produced in stainless steel instead of plastic. Further back is really a cut and shut version from the TTS’s multilink rear suspension. Minor surgery has brought place inside the shell to supply pick-up points to the suspension including new wheel wells. All-wheel drive is provided by the typical Haldex-supplied system in an electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated multi-plate clutch that sends all of the torque towards the front wheels in normal conditions – until things get un-normal and torque is fed towards the rear wheels. You may expect to discover a DSG inside a car such as this, but no, it’s conventional stay with six speeds. All A1 Quattros are available glacier white with gloss black roofs. There’s a little roof spoiler during the tailgate but otherwise the car is understated. Somewhat A1 badge upon the boot backed up from the trademark Quattro badge. The baby Quattro’s cabin is traditional VW Group charcoal having a whiff of colour from red stitching upon the deeply bolstered leather seats. There will be aluminium cappings upon the pedals and also a chunky alloy gearshift knob pinched, from the looks of them, coming from the R8. What is it like? Proper assessment of ride quality, the nuances of chassis behaviour, grip levels in corners, and traction from corners is impossible on thefrozen lake track we tested the car on. Everything may have to wait patiently until we calculate one onto a section of Tarmac. Chuckability, however, we will judge. With 252bhp and 258lb ft of torque the A1 Quattro goes not hang around on an open road. Audi says 0-62mph in 5. 7sec. Inside the days before sophisticated traction control a four-wheel drive hatch with more than 250bhp would murder a front-drive rival although not today. I doubt any one of the nineteen that have bought this car will ever have this much fun by it. You don’t even got to utilize the handbrake, just barrel into your corner, lift after which back upon the gas inside a lovely drift. Should I buy one? Driving the car on snow and ice is great fun but we’ll be serious for a while. And the value of the rare little rocket is an effective point of which to prevent grinning and larking about. It’s £41, 020. Yes, more income by over a grand compared to the 335bhp RS3 Sportback. Cayman cash, even. We will assume that A1 Quattro buyers are pretty serious Audistes, probably having owned a string of S and RS models. However the A1 Quattro wears neither of those badges and I hardly think that Audi would have gone to the difficulty of creating the 4wd underpinnings if this didn’t take benefit of it in larger numbers. Audi almost admits that an S1 is requried to be made by its way. For sure the A1 Quattro is a rare beast, though it‘s simply not special enough and I don’t think that view will alter even after driving it on an open road. Audi A1 Quattro Price : £41, 020 ; Top speed : 152mph ; 0-62mph : 5. 7sec ; Economy : 33. 2mpg ; Co2 : 199g / km ; Kerb weight : 1390kg ; Engine : In-line four, 1984cc ; Installation : Front, transverse, 4wd ; Power : 252bhp at 6000rpm ; Torque : 258lb ft at 2500rpm ; Gearbox : 6-spd manual Audi A1 Quattro