Limited-production Audi A1 quattro has monster power to all four wheels

Audi is poised to take the supercompact class by storm with a wild 252-hp, all-wheel-drive version of the A1.

To be produced in a limited run of just 333 cars, the A1 quattro harks back to Audi's rallying heyday of the 1980s. It has aggressive, competition-based styling, a turbocharged engine and the latest in all-wheel-drive technology, together with a heavily reworked interior boasting all of the sporting accoutrements to back up its impressive mechanical specification.

The go-fast hatchback, which Audi strenuously denies presages a long-rumored S1 model, aims to land a knockout punch to a host of European-market pocket rockets, including the Fiat Punto Abarth, the Renault Clio Sport, the Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works and the Volkswagen GTi.

Powering the A1 quattro is the same turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder direct-injection gasoline TFSI engine used in the S3. Shoehorned transversely into the engine bay, it produces 252 hp at 6,000 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque from 2,500 rpm to 4,500 rpm. That's an increase of 70 hp and 74 lb-ft on the most powerful of the German carmaker's existing A1 models, the 1.4 TFSI.

The power is channeled through a standard six-speed manual gearbox and a Haldex-style multiplate-clutch all-wheel-drive system that Audi has engineered for the A1's PQ25 platform. The car rolls on 18-inch center-lock white painted wheels shod with 225/35 tires at each corner. Also included is an electronically controlled differential lock that automatically applies brake pressure to spinning wheels to improve traction.

Audi has yet to officially divulge a weight figure but claims that the A1 quattro will match the S3 in the sprint from 0 to 62 mph with a time of 5.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 152 mph, making it 1.2 seconds and 11 mph faster than the front-wheel-drive A1 1.4 TFSI.

Underpinning the A1 quattro is a heavily reworked MacPherson-strut and multilink suspension boasting specific track widths. Audi describes it as being “significantly firmer” than existing versions of the A1.

Further changes include the electromechanical steering, which adopts a more direct 14.8:1 ratio, and upgraded brakes with larger discs and black calipers. Audi also reprogrammed the ESP stability-control system to allow it to be switched off completely.

The quattro is distinguished from lesser A1 three-door hatchback models by a series of styling changes that combine with a lowered suspension to give it an arresting, competition-car appearance. Up front, there's a deep bumper, enlarged air ducts and a large black-framed grille. Audi's design department also added widened sills underneath the doors to add greater visual aggression.

But it is at the rear where the most significant changes have taken place. Among them is a prominent spoiler mounted above the rear hatch and designed to provide added downforce at high speeds for greater stability. There also is a deeper rear bumper with a prominent valance panel and twin chromed exhausts measuring 3.9 inches in diameter. A contrasting white-and-black paint scheme sets it all off.

Inside is an upgraded interior with heavily bolstered sport seats, a flat-bottom, multifunction steering wheel and stylish door trims--all decked out in black leather with red stitching. Also included are reworked instruments, aluminum pedals and an aluminum-topped gear lever. The rear bench seats are retained, providing seating for up to four adults. However, the need to accommodate the all-wheel-drive components reduced trunk space by 2.1 cubic feet, to 7.4 cubic feet.

Audi says the first customer deliveries of the A1 quattro will begin during the second half of 2012. Although pricing has yet to be announced, the new car will offer a high level of equipment, including xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights, air conditioning, cruise control, rain sensor, automatically dimming mirrors, keyless entry and park sensors.

Work on the Haldex-style system, which uses electronic sensors to operate a hydraulically operated clutch, began in early 2010--some six months before front-wheel-drive versions of the A1 went on sale. Original plans were for an A1 1.4 TFSI quattro model. It was meant to lay the ground for an even hotter S1 model, running a powered-up version of Audi's 1.8-liter TFSI engine. However, Audi now says the all-wheel-drive hardware will remain exclusive to the A1 quattro, suggesting that plans for both the A1 1.4 TFSI and the S1 have been shelved.

Still, the company won't deny that the new A1's quattro system will appear in an upcoming Q1 junior SUV that Autoweek has been told is under development based on the PQ25 structure and set to rival Mini's Countryman.

A further application of the Audi setup can be seen underneath parent Volkswagen's new Polo R World Rally Championship contender, set to be driven in 2012 by former Citro

By Greg Kable