While some automotive cultures define performance by the amount of cylinders or even through outrageous horsepower, an astute group of car fanatics realize a true sports car as a well-rounded creation. Weight, handling and usable engine power cemented into perfect form has the ability to cultivate a four-wheeled legend. The original Mini Cooper or even the Porsche 911 has proven formidable matches to much more powerful cars in some motorsport arenas. Best exercised by Japan and European brands, engineers have a knack for realizing performance potential from otherwise vanilla economy cars.

A popular upscale compact car, the Audi A1 has been an important part in appealing to European buyers including the ones found in the auto brand’s German homeland. Filling a small vehicle niche the German luxury car company had not occupied since the discontinuation of the Audi 50 in 1978, the three-door A1 hatchback charmed a younger, hipper group of motorists with the Volkswagen Polo-based compact. Announcing the five-door A1 Sportback’s addition just last month ago, the shift towards practicality for the model will be accompanied by a product capturing clients expecting excess thrill. Just ahead of Christmas, Audi delivers news of a limited production A1 quattro sport compact car. Part of what will be a quick production run of 333 cars in 2012, the Audi A1 quattro trails deeply into European factory sport compact culture.

For this special edition quattro model, Audi has added some standard expressions of aggression only giving a preview to the car that is the A1 quattro. Tinted rear windows, a blackened rear diffuser and Glacier White painted 18-inch alloy wheels are mild tell tale signs of this compact’s differentiation from its economy car siblings. Xenon plus headlamps and adaptive brake lights is high-end A1 quattro touches guaranteed to win over the Audi faithful admiring the division’s emphasis on technology integrated with design. Maybe an unimposing image on the roadway, the power that lurks inside of this premium sport compact will allow the Audi A1 quattro to effectively stand out when in motion.

Powered by Audi’s 2.0 TFSI inline-four engine, the A1 quattro performance is launched to levels close to the TTS sports car. Combining a turbocharger and intercooler assembly with gasoline direct injection inside the engine bay, the Audi A1 quattro claws pavement under the momentum of 256 horsepower. Accelerating under the force of 258 pounds feet of torque, the Audi 2.0 TFSI powerplant storms from 0 to 62 miles per hour in an advertised 5.7-second time. The Audi A1 quattro top speed is appraised at 245 kilometers per hour (152 miles per hour).

The surge of quattro all-wheel drive keeps the Audi A1 quattro extremely stable under heavy performance load. The only chance to buy a quattro-equipped version of the A1, this car is Audi’s smallest production exercises into all-wheel drive motoring. In between the 2.0 TFSI engine and the quattro drivetrain is a six-speed manual gearbox. Electronic stability control and differential lock of both axles assures steady control on the vehicle when placed on the verge of instability.

Inside the cockpit of the Audi A1 quattro, a serious black interior relays the sense of ultimate sports car driving. Featuring red as a faint support colour, black Silk Nappa leather covers the armrests on the doors as well as the well-bolstered sport seats. Along with red stitching, the generous use of aluminum or aluminum-like pieces on the shifter knob and door handles contrasts the dark interior of the Audi A1 quattro. Automatic air conditioning and LED interior lighting will insure that the black automotive cabin is very liveable for pursuing comfortable yet enthusiastic driving. An occupant operating the Audi A1 quattro will benefit with driver-oriented interior design featuring a multi-function steering wheel as well as a highly legible instrument console including a bold red-faced tachometer.

Along with the shear thrill occupants will feel as the Audi A1 quattro rockets through European roads and across highways, the compact is equipped with a far-reaching assortment of infotainment gear to companion the motoring experience. Bose supplies a 14-speaker, 456-watt sound system suited for the optimal enjoyment of audio tracks through the A1 quattro’s CD changer or through MP3 tracks. The Audi A1 quattro’s infotainment connectivity includes the technology to connect with Google Earth. Passengers can also link to the Internet with the A1 quattro’s integrated WLAN hotspot through their portable computing devices.

Overall, the Audi A1 quattro will be a rare opportunity to capture a piece of S-Line performance in a smaller package. An automotive delight that North American customers will not realize, the limited 333-car production of the Audi A1 quattro who leave many potential European customers leaving dealerships saddened to miss their ownership opportunity. Please forgive the jealous residents west of the Atlantic Ocean expressing schadenfreude to that kind of misfortune.

Information and photo source: Audi AG

Introduced in Europe, the A1 came to life from the same chassis used for the Volkswagen Polo (another car some American have summoning unsuccessfully) as the Audi brand’s challenger against the BMW 1 Series or Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Sharing similar expense pressures of driving, the motorists inside countries like France, Germany and the United Kingdom have been battered hard by higher fuel prices on top of car insurance costs. Luxury cars like the Audi A1 are creations based on necessity returning the market as a sporty personal hatchback. Spawned initially in three-door form, the Audi A1’s five-door version charms the tight European roads with youthful looks and practicality.

The 2012 Audi A1 Sportback is another product the German auto company wishes to link thoughts of performance with practicality. While the Sportback name appears more common on the European Audi vehicle line-up, the S7 Sportback brought to the United States lends understanding to the marketing and design principle the five-door A1 looks to accomplish. Adding two additional doors for the rear passengers, the 2012 Audi A1 Sportback’s persona is casually altered. Rather being a nifty sport look, the five-door version of the A1 Sportback is propelled as a more considerate, mature existence. Measuring a total length of 3.95 meters (155.52 inches), the Audi A1 Sportback is more than 14.5 inches shorter than the smallest North American Audi offering, the A3. The A1 Sportback incorporates the new Audi brand design traits including the flared wheel wells and the furious-looking front headlamp housings. Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights can be optioned on the 2012 Audi A1 Sportback. On the back of the 2012 Audi A1 Sportback, SuperRed LED taillight units quickly warn following vehicles. Showing that Audi’s knowledge of materials stretches beyond aluminum, one-third of the five-door A1 Sportback consists of high strength steel.

Structurally stable on a front-wheel drive train (there is no mention of quattro all-wheel drive), the Audi A1 Sportback invokes a strong sense of control with an electronic stability program, strong brakes featuring front ventilation and an electronic limited slip differential. In different trim levels, the 2012 Audi A1 Sportback sports a trendy assortment of wheels. 2012 Audi A1 Sportback models trimmed in the Attraction version wears rather basic 15-inch steel wheels. The Ambition trim model of the A1 Sportback upgrades the outer look with 16-inch alloys with optional 17-inch cast aluminum and quattro GmbH sourced 18-inch wheels perfecting appearances. An additional outside styling touch is a two-tone colouring scheme on the 2012 Audi A1 Sportback accenting the roof against the list of 12 exterior colours.

With the cabin opened by the two new passenger doors, occupants inside the Audi A1 Sportback partake in a delightfully spacious interior surrounding. Up to 32.49 cubic feet of cargo room is created in the Audi A1 cabin when the rear seats are folded. Helping to create a comfortable environment for adult passengers, the 2012 Audi A1 Sportback comes standard equipped as a four-seat vehicle. Optional features provided on the 2012 A1 Sportback includes five-passenger seating, 14-speaker Bose surround sound system, Audi MMI navigation plus with a 6.5-inch screen and the Internet equipment as well as software that can turn the vehicle into a WLAN hotspot.

In touch with the European tastes for diesel power and small gasoline engines, the 2012 Audi A1 Sportback is propelled by a selection of six power plants. Thee gasoline and three Audi TDI engine choices all configured with four cylinder banks, entry-level power comes from a 1.2 TFSI powerplant producing 86 horsepower. Top gasoline power for the 2012 Audi A1 is realized with a supercharged and turbocharged 185 horsepower, 1.4 liter inline-4 that allows the premium subcompact to run from 0 to 62 miles per hour in a stout 7 seconds flat. The performance-leading diesel for the 2012 A1 Sportback is a 2.0 TDI that combines 143 horsepower with average fuel economy said to be over 57 miles per gallon. Five-speed and six-speed manual transmissions and a 7-speed twin-clutch S tronic gearbox are available through the Audi A1 Sportback’s engine line-up.

While the potentially lower rates of van insurance could tempt for more financially strapped families, the more energetic presence of smaller utility cars is a solid way to retain a zest for life. Soon to be a realization of automotive customers in Munich in 2012, motorists in American cities are not expected to see the A1 Sportback for the immediate future. However, Audi has a history of being receptive to North American interests in European-only vehicles. Just like the TTRS and the RS5, the Audi A1 Sportback could only be a matter of a petition away.

Information and photo source: Audi AG

Audi ensures us that the tiny A1 is no budget model, but aimed at the likes of BMW’s MINI brand. Audi says they’ve received a surprisingly high demand for the new car, and as a result, will be increasing the expected annual production run of 100,000 by 20%. In fact, they’re hoping they’ll have as many as 50,000 units roll off the assembly line by the end of 2010.

The A1 initially gets three engines – a 1.2 TFSI, the 1.4 TFSI and the 1.6 TDI – all three getting turbochargers, direct injection, and Audi’s fuel-saving engine start/stop system.

Check out more photos of the Audi A1 below:

Adding to the existing A4 Driving Challenge game on the iPhone that Audi released in September of 2008 to promote the then-redesigned A4, the company just released a new game called “Audi A1 Beat Driver” to promote the new small car. As with any advertisement/promo-game, it doesn’t cost anything to download and play.

Audi A1 Beat Driver features nine songs to drive to the beat to, if that makes sense. In the game, you drive the A1 down a virtual road, swiping the screen to steer while trying to hit as many blocks as possible to the beat of the music. Imagine Rock Band or Guitar Hero, but with a compact car instead. As with every video game that’s ever existed, you try and collect power-ups and avoid obstacles along the way.

An International list of scores is kept on the leaderboard in-game, and naturally you can share your score via Twitter or Facebook and view more information about the Audi A1 from within the app. I wouldn’t call the game a “keeper,” but it’s definitely worth a download and one play-through.

Don’t expect to see these in your Audi showroom any time soon, but don’t be surprised if you do see one of these in the future. Theo Chin, auto artist extraordinaire, has created a few Audi A1 concept variants so we can get an idea of what might be coming our way within the next few years.

First up are the two variations of an A1 convertible:

Audi A1 Cabriolet

Audi A1 Soft-Top

Next up we have some high-performance versions of the A1:

Audi S1

Audi RS1

Even though Audi specifically said they won’t be making the RS1, I do expect to see the S1 one of these days. And if that’s not enough for you, there will be plenty of aftermarket tuning companies to tickle your fancy.

Courtesy of Theophilus Chin

Audi just released images and information on the upcoming optional Competition Package for the newest car in the Audi lineup – the A1. Color scheme taken from the competition model Audi Quattro Sport S1 from the 1980′s, the A1 Competition Package features a white and orange theme along with some unmistakably racing-inspired trim.

The A1 Competition kit doesn’t change the performance of the car in any way (but don’t racing stripes add 5 hp?) Other than the obvious exterior color changes, the kit adds a leather central tunnel painted special colors, a leather sports steering wheel, and a set of sport mats. The rear-view mirror is painted the colors of the famous model that Walter Rohrl drove at Pikes Peak almost 25 years ago. The car also receives a set of custom alloy wheels, which look quite nice, I must say.

Check out more pictures at fourtitude

Audi is working especially hard recently to bring electric power to their lineup. Initially, we thought the launch of the e-tron electric sports car was a one model deal, but it turns out Audi is calling “e-tron” their “brand name for electric mobility.” The electric sports car they showed will be launched first, in late 2012 in limited numbers, but will be followed by other models powered by an electric powertrain.

The Audi A1 e-tron, for example, will likely be the next step. Audi is calling the A1 e-tron a “Mega City Vehicle,” and with a power output of 102 hp, gets 31 miles out of its electric motor. A small rotary engine serves as a range extender, giving the A1 e-tron an extra 124 miles. Audi says the car will get around 124 mpg with both the gasoline and electric motors.

Audi is also applying the electric concept to developing full hybrid vehicles. The Audi Q5 hybrid will be on the market as early as late 2010, and the A8 hybrid in being displayed as you read this at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The A8 Hybrid Concept is more of an engineering study than a preview, but the idea is solid. The concept car is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo engine, and along with the electric motor, gets an output of 245 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque.

Wasabi Green isn’t the first color that pops into my mind when thinking of what color I’d like my new interior, but Audi is offering it as an option in the new A1. They promise it won’t be over-the-top, however, and will be used “selectively to create accent, such as in details like seams.” Might look pretty good after all.

Special colors, both on the interior and exterior, really help with the uniqueness and personality of a car and even help the owner feel more connected to their ride.

Wasabi, in case you aren’t aware, is a Japanese type of horseradish that is extremely spicy. I’m not one for overly spicy foods, so I try to stay away from the stuff. As an interior accent color though, I could see it looking pretty cool on certain exterior colors.

Audi A1 Wall Art

Although we saw a few Audi A1 spy shots back in October, we haven’t heard much about the upcoming A1 subcompact since then. Audi just came out saying something along the lines of “we’re not telling you anything about the A1 yet.” How nice of them.

Early next year though, we’ll be getting all the details on the A1 when Audi reveals it in its online premiere, then will show it at the 2010 Geneva Motors Show in March. In the mean time, Audi informed us that they will be giving us a “look through the keyhole” in the coming weeks, so expect to see more of the A1 little by little.

For more material on the A1, check out Audi’s A1 Facebook page and their A1 minisite.

2010 Audi A1 Spied

We’ve been hearing about the compact Audi A1 for a while, and now we have our first official spy shots of the small hatchback. The A1 will be a likely competitor to the Mini Cooper, and as you can see from the photos taken outside of Audi headquarters in Munich, Germany, it will first be released as a three-door hatchback model with a five-door version to follow.

The 2010 Audi A1 will be shown at next year’s Geneva Motor Show, and will be on sale later in the year. Expect a FWD layout initially, with a possible quattro system down the road. While there is no word on engine choices, we expect a wide range of gasoline and diesel choices in Europe, with only a few engine choices in the States if it makes its way over here.

source: carmagazine