Audi S1 at Paris

The Audi S1 will have a Paris Launch (A1 Wörthersee Concept pictured)

It’s getting on for a year since we reported that – despite some saying it wouldn’t happen – Audi were planning at least a warm version of the A1 and had on the drawing board the Audi S1 to take on the MINI Cooper.

So it’s not a shock that we hear Audi are planning on bring the S1 along to Paris for a reveal before getting the S1 on the roads by the second quarter of 2011.

Expect the usual Audi S bits in the mix  - bigger wheels, fettled suspension, beefed-up brakes, body kit – and power in the S1 to come from the S/C turbo 1.4 TSI found in the VW Polo GTI, although the S1 may just get a tweaked version of the engine as befits its higher standing in the VW hierarchy with a bit more than the 178 horses the Polo GTI manages.

But the S1 is going to have to be good to make a big impact in this market. MINI has a loyal following – and a good product – even if its prices can sometimes seem a bit barking and OTT. Mind you, the S1 is not the cheapest option.

What should concern Audi more is stuff like the Citroen DS3. Actually, not stuff like the DS3, but the DS3 in particular. We’ve got the DS3 DSport 150 in this week, and it’s a good car. In fact it’s bordering on a great car. And it cost under £16k. Which is the same money Audi currently wants for the A1 1.6 TDI Sport. And the S1 will be a lot more. Even though, as far as we know, it won’t get the normal Audi ‘S’ quattro drive.

Still, the Audi S1 is a welcome addition to the fray.

By Cars UK