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The most powerful version of the new Audi A1 to date, the 185-horse 1.4 TFSI S-Line is now available to order in the UK with prices starting from £20,705 on-the-road (US$32,900). The 1.4-liter supercharged and turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine comes with a standard S tronic seven-speed twin-clutch transmission that transfers power to the front wheels.
Audi says the car can accelerate from rest to 62 mph (100km/h) in 6.9 seconds, and continue on to a 141mph (227 km/h) top speed, while returning a combined fuel efficiency of 47.9 mpg UK (39.9 mpg US or 5.9 lt/100km).
The A1 1.4 TFSI 185HP is equipped with Audi's S-Line packages which include a sports suspension, a bodykit with different bumpers, side skirts and a rear diffuser, plus 17-inch alloy wheels and part leather-upholstered sports seats.
Other standard features include remote central locking, air conditioning, electric front windows and mirrors, Bluetooth mobile phone preparation, Driver’s Information System and a six-speaker single CD audio system with auxiliary iPod connection.
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In its latest take on the new Audi A1, Senner Tuning has released a sports kit for the gasoline powered 1.4 TFSI model. The German tuning firm begins with the 1.4-liter motor which gains a new free-flow air filter, a reconfigured ECU and a custom stainless steel exhaust system. These upgrades help raise output on the gasoline engine from 122 horsepower and 200Nm of torque to 156 horsepower and 250Nm.
The package is complemented by black-polish 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in S1 Evo tires from Hankook, and sports springs that lower the car's ride height by 35mm. The price for the basic tuning kit is €4,590 or the US equivalent to $6,100.
Senner Tuning also offers a variety of other goodies such as a full sports suspension with custom height, rebound and compression adjustment, carbon trim for the interior and LED rear lights. The prices for these options are available on request.
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Ever since the presentation of the all-new A1 in early 2010, we have been wondering if and when Audi will introduce its trademark all wheel drive quattro technology that we've come to know as synonymous with the brand to its premium supermini. Well, it appears that this may happen sooner than expected as the Ingolstadt-based automaker revealed that it is currently testing an unmarked A1 quattro prototype on Canada’s densely snow-packed roads.
The German firm stated that the one-off development car is one of the stars of the ‘Fascination of quattro’ event taking place in Montreal to celebrate the past, present and future of the legendary four-wheel-drive system, which reached its 30th anniversary in 2010.
The all-wheel drive technology used on the A1 prototype is very similar to that found in A3 and TT models. At the heart of the system is an electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated multi-plate clutch located in front of the rear axle. Under normal driving conditions, the clutch sends most of the engine’s power to the front wheels. If the front axle starts losing traction, the clutch can instantly transfer torque to the rear axle by forcing the plate packages together.
Audi's decision to develop an all-wheel drive system for the A1's PQ25 platform, which also underpins the VW Polo, is believed to be linked with the presentation of several new models from the group, including an S1 and possibly and even more powerful RS1 variant, as well as an AWD version of the VW CrossPolo and a range-topping Polo R.
Currently, the most potent model of the A1 series is the front-wheel drive 185HP 1.4 TFSI, which was launched at the Paris Motor Show last September.
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Bavarian tuner HS Motorsport has teamed up with Autohaus Kempen and various other aftermarket specialists to create the Audi A1 project car, which features exterior modifications, upgraded suspension and some interior appointments as well.
CFC Styling Station was in charge of the custom paintjob, an "effect-rich silver finish" combined with a black stripe that runs from the front grille to the end of the roof. The rear bumper has been modified in order to incorporate a Golf R32-style two-pipe exhaust system, specially conceived by Fox Sport Exhaust Systems for this project.
To improve handling, engineers at H&R developed a new lowered coilover suspension system (-55 mm at the front and -60 mm at the back).
No tuned car is complete without a nice set of alloy wheels. HS Motorsport offers two different designs, the ASA GT1 in a black matte finish with silver accents, and the "edgier" ASA GT2 in anthracite, both measuring 18-inches. Vredestein and Hankook provide the 215/35 R18 tires. Buyers can also opt for a more powerful braking system from Brembo.
The project car's 122 hp (91 kW) 1.4-liter TSI engine was left untouched, but the German tuner can accommodate power-hungry customers by installing a power kit that increases output to 147 hp (110 kW) and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque.
Inside, there are two-tone Recaro Sportster CS seats and an optional Alpine sound system.
By Csaba Daradics
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Last week, we told you that the Paris motor show organizers confirmed the Audi S1 and that sources made word of a slightly more powerful variant of the new VW Polo GTI's dual-charged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing a little over 180 ponies.
Well, get this; today, Audi presented a new flagship version of the A1 powered by a tweaked dual-charged 1.4 TFSI delivering 185HP and 250 Nm (184.39 lb-ft) - but, the Germans aren't calling it the S1. Instead, the most powerful variant of the A1 series to date is plainly named the 'A1 1.4 TFSI'.
Guess we'll have to wait for the grand opening of the Paris Show on September 30 to find out if this is the car the organizers were referring to or if Audi has a spicier surprise under its belt.
Like the latest VW Polo GTI, the A1 1.4 TFSI combines the dual-charged (supercharger and turbocharger) petrol engine with a standard seven-speed S tronic transmission that directs power to the front wheels.
To improve handling, the car comes equipped as standard with ESP stabilization program featuring an electronic limited slip differential. When the system detects a looming loss of traction at the inside wheel during fast cornering, it initiates very brief braking of that wheel. The package also include more powerful front brakes.
Audi says the flagship A1 model goes from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in just 6.9 seconds (same as the 180HP VW Polo GT) and reaches a maximum speed of 227 km/h (141mph). The premium supermini consumes on average 5.9 lt/100km (39.9 US mpg), which corresponds to CO2 emissions of 139 g/km (223.70 g/mile).
Standard features include Ambition equipment line, 17-inch wheels, S line exterior package, manual air conditioning, additional mono.pur colored interior elements, black headlining and an LED interior light package.
The A1 1.4 TFSI 185HP will be launched in Europe toward the end of the year at a price of €24,250 (about US$31,700 at today's exchange rates).
Just six months after the presentation of the A1 e-tron concept car at the Geneva Salon this past March, and Audi has announced plans to begin fleet testing of it extended range electric premium hatchback.
The Ingolstadt-based automaker said that by the middle of next year, 20 examples of the A1 e-tron will take to the streets of Munich as part of a pilot project undertaken by Audi AG in partnership with E.ON, the Munich municipal utility company Stadtwerke München (SWM) and the Technical University of Munich (TUM).
Approximately 200 new charging stations will be installed throughout the Munich city area, including private garages or parking garages. Audi claims all of the charging stations will be supplied with electricity generated from renewable energies.
The goal is to enable experts to address a number of issues ranging from the data transfer between the driver, vehicle and electric filling station to the power grid, to the use of smartphones as the central interface for the driver.
Audi's answer to the BMW Group's MINI-E features a similar setup with the range-extending EV Chevrolet Volt making use of an electric motor to drive the front wheels and a small single-rotor Wankel engine that recharges the lithium-ion battery when its energy is depleted.
The electric motor delivers an output equivalent to 102-horsepower allowing the A1 e-tron to reach a top speed of 130km/h (81mph). The car is said to have a driving range of around 50 kilometers or 31 miles on a fresh charge.
If the range extender Wankel engine is used to recharge the battery, the A1 e-tron can cover an additional 200 kilometers or 124 miles of range. Audi says that according to a draft standard for the computation of fuel consumption for range extender vehicles, this represents a fuel consumption of 1.9 l/100 km (124mpg) with a CO2 equivalent of 45 g/km (72.42 g/mile).
"We are trying to find a concept that requires no compromises," says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, who continues, "Electromobility means more to us than just electrifying conventional cars. Instead we are dedicated to a holistic approach to all aspects of the topic. We hope that this fleet trial will enable us to gain broad insights into the behaviour but also the expectations of our customers regarding their dealings with electric cars. Of course, the data that we will collect are another aspect. This market and technology feedback will enable us to further expand our expertise in electrification."
It's (semi) official; the Paris Motor Show organizers have confirmed the presentation of the Audi S1. While Ingolstadt has not yet confirmed any technical details on the go-fast version of the A1 premium supermini (keep in mind, the car pictured here is not the S1 but one of the Wörthersee show concepts), sources state that it will be powered by the same 1.4-liter TSI turbocharged engine found under the hood of the Polo GTi. It is possible that Audi may tweak the four-cylinder unit to produce a few more ponies than the 180HP it returns on the VW model.
The S1 will also get the usual performance parts such as taller and wider tires, upgraded suspension and brake system bits, as well as a styling package similar to the S-Line trim.
The new hot hatch from Audi should go on sale in Europe by early next year, and like its regular siblings, it won't be making its way to the States, or at least not any time soon according to recent statements from Audi officials.
Photo Gallery: Audi A1 Wörthersee Concept (read more here)
