Audi S1: driving test and video
Posted on 17-03-2014 at 16:00 by CasperH – 47 Comments”
The cute little Audi A1 with 231 hp, Quattro, and one of the most legendary autosportbadges ever, that’s promising!
[ First look, then read? Watch the video HERE! ]
The Audi A1 we all know, the small Audi based on the Volkswagen Polo rolls for a number of years around. A few weeks ago in Geneva the Audi S1 revealed, a logical variant of the A1 motorway. Audi has a reputation with the S-badge to hold it high, almost any model will get a sporty variant of the brand from Ingolstadt, and there is traditionally a (R)S-badge on it. But with the A1 there was a problem because the S1 sticker is ever forgiven on the legendary rally car of Audi from the 80’s. When, a few years ago, the Audi A1 Quattro was launched in a limited edition of 333 pieces (256 hp) was given to me by someone from Audi told that the S1-name reserved would continue to be a rally car. Apparently people are already on other thoughts.
The Audi S1 is equipped with the 2.0 TFSI, which we know from the Volkswagen Golf R and the Seat Leon Cupra. An important difference, however, is that the turbo is slightly smaller than in the previously mentioned concerngenoten. This had everything to do with that one 12 millimeter deficit came in the engine compartment for the same turbo to be mounted as in the previously mentioned cars otherwise had the engineers this best want to do. The turbo had to be able to fit, but then had the air conditioning have to be removed, that was no option, of course. In the S1 is the 2.0 TFSI is good for 231 hp and 370 Nm of torque. All those horses and Newtons are to be controlled by a manual gearbox. That’s right, no S-Tronic and that will also not come. If you want to boenderen in this hot hatch then you will have to stir. Fine, so it must be in a fast car of this size. If an electric lock driven front wheels traction loss is there power to the rear wheels is sent through a Haldex differential and that ensures that you are in the S1 within the 5.8 seconds the one hundred kilometers per hour can reach (with the S1 Sportback a tenth of a second slower).
Not only technically is the S1 custom, and the exterior and interior are quite a taken in hand to make no mistake about it, to leave you with a Quattro product on the go. S1 and Quattro logos are also quite a rondgestrooid. On the rear is the (optional) rear spoiler, diffuser and a black area between the taillights. On both sides put two uitlaatpijpjes from the bumper which makes for a total of four. Maybe a bit over the top but it is according to the S-principle, all S-models of Audi have this setup under the butt.
At the front jump the Xenon plus headlights with red accents is the most in the eye. Also, there is a different front bumper with black lip is mounted, as well as a high-gloss black single frame grill with the S1 logo. Further, this instance punctuated by 17-inch light metal, optional 18-inch to get. Behind the wheels hide the brakes with a diameter of 31 inches.
In the interior, we find more STAINLESS steel pedals, a set of grey dials and sports seats. Optional are the Super sports seats in this instance, to recognize the integrated headrest and the high-gloss finished back. In this case it is black but you can also in yellow or red, as well as the trim around the centre console. In that center console you will find the beautiful metal lever of the manual zesbak that allows you to quickly and effectively your gears will go. I must say that the Super sport seats in particular sit and also plenty of support. What me irritates is the cd player, which is really just me in the road at the faster schakelwerk. Fortunately, you can get him folding.
The first meters in the Audi S1 I experience as quite uncomfortable. The roads in Sweden where we drive on are not the best roads we’ve ever put under the wheels have had but this feels very intense. A check shows me that the lord of Audi, the car in Dynamic mode, which amongst others ensures that the damping of the car a lot sportier. I decide for the option “Auto” to select the third mode “Efficiency” I do not do out of principle) and that increases the comfort considerably. Unfortunately I can’t find any option in the Drive Select system which I have my own preferences for throttle response and chassis can be set.
The Audi S1 does what you would expect: the 231 horsepower are more than enough for a lot of fun in a small car like this, but especially with the torque of 370 Nm ensures that you effortlessly lazy can drive with this car. Even a slightly slower road user overtaking is perhaps more enjoyable from the third gear but it also works from the sixth gear if you don’t want to switch back. Once on the what bochtiger (and snowy) roads arrived, it is clear that the A1 just a model year hatchback, with a lot of weight in the nose is: understeer is a item. The smooth surface enhances this, of course, enormous, but also offers the possibility to the solution to the problem to explore: by lift-off oversteer to force you can get your ass out let it slide. Go hard on the gas then scribbling the four wheels to grip while they have you in a vierwieldrift in the right direction. Then you have to have the guts to get on the gas to keep the car straight again pulled is because if the gas is previously released slide you just continue in the direction of verge. It is a tricky but addictive easy to get the balance between under – and oversteer to get them just right but if it succeeds, indicates that there’s a lot of satisfaction.
Unfortunately we have in the Netherlands today, no snow more in the winter and so you can wonder if such a small hatchback with all-wheel drive is necessary here. Especially since the prices start at 38.900 euros for the hatchback and 39.900 for the five-door Sportback. The answer is simple: it is not necessary. Stronger still: 231 hp in a boodschappenautootje’s bizarre, unnecessary, and the four-wheel drive will be in the Netherlands, practically only used in a stoplichtsprintje and is actually also completely unnecessary. But as with so many unnecessary things in life: it is fun. Of course, you can for over 40,000 euro (because as soon as you have a option on the list you go thick by that boundary, very many beautiful things to buy, lots of beautiful hot hatchbacks, cars that are arguably better and more fun and faster to drive than the S1. But if you have the S1 in that way, approaches miss the point of the S1. This is just a cool jam, made because it can, by a bunch of engineers that is something crazy to do. The result of that you can buy now and if you have the S1 badge also can interpret it as a tribute in place of profanity, there is really little to worry about. And then with an Audi S1 just very fun toys under your ass. Movie!
Gallery: Audi S1
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