German luxury carmaker Audi is all set to unveil the fully fledged series production model of the S1 and the S1 Sportback at the Geneva Motor Show. With this, the company is ready to complete its promise to transform the limited edition Audi A1 Quattro into a production model.
Under hood, the Audi S1 is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that churns out a maximum power output of 228bhp and 370bhp of top torque. It can propel the Audi S1 and S1 Sportback from 0 to 100kmph in mere 5.8 and 5.9 seconds respectively, and on to a top speed of 250kmph, while still upholding the A1's reputation for impressive economy.
The Audi S1 and the S1 Sportback will feature a six-speed manual transmission, which transmits power to quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. At the heart of the system is a hydraulic multi-plate clutch located on the rear axle and operated by control software tuned specifically to suit the character of an S quattro model. The electronic differential lock with the fine-tuned wheel-selective torque control is a function of the Electronic Stabilisation Control (ESC). It features two-stage deactivation and supplements the work of the multi-plate clutch with additional finely metered braking intervention on the inside wheels – the interaction of both systems makes for extremely agile, precise and stable handling.
Underpinnings, the S1 gets the reworked suspension configurations. Modified pivot bearings on the front axle sharpen response when turning, and at the rear a four-link design replaces the torsion beam suspension used for ‘standard’ A1 models. Damper settings are also adjustable via the Audi drive select adaptive dynamics system, which appears for the first time at this level in the S1 and also allows the driver to vary the response of the throttle and the operating parameters of the electronic climate control across a number of settings, including one designed to optimise efficiency.
The Audi S1 and the S1 Sportback features the 17-inch wheels with 215/40 R17 tyres as standard, with 18-inch alternatives available as an option, and a larger brake master cylinder and large brake discs. As standard, the vehicle has xenon plus headlights, which are linked here to LED rear lights with new, horizontally structured graphics. Two new exterior colours – Vegas yellow and Sepang blue - supplement the available paint finishes, and to add more visual drama an optional quattro exterior styling package incorporating a sculpted roof spoiler will also be available.
It comes equipped with Sports seats with combination Milano leather and Olympic cloth upholstery, electronic climate control, a six-speaker single CD audio system with auxiliary iPod connection and SD card reader linked to a 6.5-inch retractable colour display, a Bluetooth interface and a Driver's Information System.
Source : CarDekho - Audi to introduce S1 hot hatch at Geneva Motor Show
