Autoblog

Watch this Audi S1 Group B racer tear up the Kyustendil Hillclimb

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Videos, Audi, Racing

Bulgarian tuner Prospeed has built a replica of Audi's fabled S1 World Rally Championship mauler out of a garden-variety Audi Coupe, and it's a convincing-looking beast. Helping in its bid for authenticity is genuine Group B horsepower: 800 ponies, to be exact. It won the Bulgarian Hillclimb Championship last year, and it recently ran up an incline at the Kyustendil Hillclimb, part of this year's championship series.

The list of modifications made to the donor car are intense, and so is the sound of the final product, singing like a crazed goldfinch as driver Nikolay Zlatkov races to the top of the hill. You can have a watch - and a listen - in the video below.

Continue reading Watch this Audi S1 Group B racer tear up the Kyustendil Hillclimb

Watch this Audi S1 Group B racer tear up the Kyustendil Hillclimb originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Are you the Audi S1?

Zach Bowman — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Audi

The engineers at Audi look to be hard at work on a more potent version of the company's A1 hatchback. Spy photographers spotted this machine out on public streets for testing, and the presence of a set of quad exhaust out back leads us to believe this could be the rumored S1 model. It's unclear whether this machine will slot under the limited-edition 256-horsepower A1 Quattro or be sold as a less extreme version of the hottest of Audi hatches when that car's production slots fill up. Photographers report this is a gasoline-powered model, which means the company's 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine is likely kicking behind the headlights.

If that's true, we can expect between 220 and 250 horsepower shuttled to all four wheels via the German automaker's Quattro all-wheel drive system. If you were wondering why Audi didn't use the S1 name for the A1 Quattro, you may very well be looking at the reason.

Are you the Audi S1? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Audi unveils 500hp A1 Clubsport Quattro show car at Wörthersee

Noah Joseph — Tue, 31 May 2011 08:56:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, Hatchback, Audi, Misc. Auto Shows

Audi A1 clubsport quattro concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi and all-wheel drive go together like mothers and apple pie. The German automaker has cultivated its Quattro systems as emblematic of its raison d'etre, incorporating it into its rapidly expanding range... with one exception: the A1. But that's about to change.

After launching the diminutive hatchback in front-wheel-drive only, Audi is working on extending the traction to the rear wheels as well. And to give us an idea of what to expect, the company has launched the A1 Clubsport Quattro concept among the 18 vehicles on display at its annual celebration in Wörthersee.

The little beast is built around an extensively tuned 2.5-liter turbo five with just under 500 horsepower. Optimized by direct injection and channeled to all four wheels through a six-speed manual, Audi claims the concept can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standstill in a scant 3.7 seconds, doubling that speed in 10.9 en route to an electronically limited, Autobahn-crunching top end of 250 km/h (155 mph).

The package is rounded out by an aggressive wide-body aerodynamic kit, decked out in matte white paint with a carbon-fiber roof, with a side-exit exhaust and 19-inch alloys. While the production A1 Quattro and the S1 or RS1 to follow isn't likely to pack the 500 horses of the show car, gamers can check it out in Need for Speed World for a limited time.

Audi has also released a series of visual mods - including decals and aero kits - for the existing A1 at the show. Want to read more? We've got the full press blast after the jump along, with an extensive batch of images in our high-resolution gallery.

Continue reading Audi unveils 500hp A1 Clubsport Quattro show car at Wörthersee

Audi unveils 500hp A1 Clubsport Quattro show car at Wörthersee originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 May 2011 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Audi S1 caught testing, likes wearing A1 clothing

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 17 May 2011 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hatchback, Audi

Spy Shots: Audi S1 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Spy photographers have been training their lenses on upcoming Audi models as of late. Earlier, we got a look at the R8 GT Spyder, and now those cameras have captured the S1 hot hatch. Though it may look like a standard Audi A1, this mule is covering up S1 guts. What's the give-away? A set of large exhaust pipes planted in the rear end.

Rumor has it that the mill powering this sporty hatchback will pump out 270 horsepower. That energy will be sent out to all four corners courtesy of the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Expect to see more aggressive bits of body work on the real S1 when it finally shows its face.

Audi S1 caught testing, likes wearing A1 clothing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Audi to skip the S and go straight to RS1?

Noah Joseph — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Audi, Rumormill

2010 Audi A1 Wörthersee custom - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you were surprised Audi chose to forgo the S1 nameplate for the top-spec version of the A1 premium hatch, hold on to your hats, because the rumor mill is spinning up again. This time, reports direct from Germany suggest that Ingolstadt may choose to skip the S1 altogether and go straight to the top with a new RS1.

The move would necessitate the adaption of the A1's chassis to accommodate all-wheel drive as previously reported, with power potentially coming from the same 2.0-liter TFSI engine found in the Volkswagen Golf GTI, and the Mini Cooper JCW in its sites. A series of visual upgrades would undoubtedly distinguish the RS1 from its more pedestrian stablemates, with reports tipping its arrival for early 2012.

Gallery: Wörthersee Tour 2010: Audi A1 customs

[Source: Auto Bild via World Car Fans]

Audi to skip the S and go straight to RS1? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

VW considering adding all-wheel drive to Audi A1, Polo?

Noah Joseph — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Audi, Volkswagen, Rumormill

Audi A1 TFSI - Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi surprised us all when it took the wraps off its top-of-the-line A1 TFSI hatchback packing everything but the kitchen sink...and the S1 nameplate. The reason, according to reports, was that every S model in the company's history has featured Quattro all-wheel drive, but the PQ25 platform on which the A1 is based can't accommodate it. At least, not yet.

The UK's Autocar now suggests, however, that a business case is being made inside the Volkswagen Group to engineer the platform to accept the extra driveshaft. Doing so would allow for proper Quattro-driven S1, but that's not all. In order to justify the cost, the Volkswagen Polo could get a couple of models driven on all fours, including a Polo R hot hatch to slot in above the Polo GTI and a CrossPolo soft-roader with actual traction to back up its butch styling.

Gallery: Paris 2010: 2011 Audi A1 TFSI

Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen CrossPolo

Live photos copyright (C)2010 Damon Lavrinc / AOL

[Source: Autocar]

VW considering adding all-wheel drive to Audi A1, Polo? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Audi ready to play hot odds: A1 S-Line, S1, RS3 and RS7 on deck

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 15:36:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Sedan, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury

Audi's lineup is expanding so quickly you'd think its cars were spawning new models by mitosis. In a few days at the Paris Motor Show we'll be seeing the newest hot addition to the A1 range: the 185-horsepower 1.4 TSFI with thrust provided by a twin-charged four cylinder. That's not the S1, it just has the S-Line package thrown on for racy looks. Next year, the S1 itself will step forward, with the Golf GTI's turbocharged 220-hp engine sitting up front. It is a sure bet to shave serious time off the TSFI's 6.9-second run from zero to 62 miles per hour.

After that comes the Audi RS3, using the same 340-hp, five-cylinder turbo from the TT RS. Sub five-second runs to 62 mph are in the offing, and its 250 kph (155 mph) top speed can be raised to 280 kph (174 mph) for a nominal fee. Then, at the Frankfurt Auto Show in the fall, the RS7 Sportback takes a bow. Powering the four-door fastback will be the 4.0-liter, 550-hp twin-turbo V8 that'll be shared with the 2011 Bentley Continental GT. That would put it about 100 horses clear of the rumored output in the S7 we should see next week in Paris, and the V8 is said to be 20 percent more fuel efficient than the 5.0-liter V10 in the RS6.

[Source: Auto Bild via German Car Blog]

Audi ready to play hot odds: A1 S-Line, S1, RS3 and RS7 on deck originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 25 Sep 2010 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Spy Shots: Audi S1 prototype has that 'forbidden fruit' thing going on

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Europe, Hatchback, Audi

Audi S1 spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you're mad about the fact that Audi won't be bringing its new A1 to the United States, you'll want to look away - our spies have captured the hotter S1 version of Audi's pint-sized hatch. This prototype may only look like an A1 in S-Line trim, but our spies point out that the larger tailpipes and heartier exhaust note are a dead giveaway of this car's heightened sporting intentions.

A five-door A1 is reportedly in the works, but the S1 will likely only be available in the three-door body style. Power is expected to come from a turbocharged, 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine which will be tuned to crank out around 180 horsepower, and Audi's seven-speed S-tronic gearbox will send that power to the front two wheels. That's right, folks - no Quattro versions of the A1 (or S1) are planned, so front-wheel drive it is.

This shiny red prototype looks to be nearing the final stages of development, which means we could see the production car as early as this year's Paris Motor Show. The S1 will certainly be a hot little number, and you can see the high-res spy shots for yourself in the gallery below.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Audi S1 Prototype

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Audi S1 prototype has that 'forbidden fruit' thing going on originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: How to transform an Audi A1 into an S1

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Audi

Turning an Audi A1 into an S1 - Click above for high-res image gallery. Follow the jump to watch video.

Proficiency is a wonderful thing to see in any category - we can even watch a great lawn bowler do his thing for a minute or two. So, when it's something closer to our interests, like Audis and Photoshopping, we can hang in a little longer. What you see here isn't an Audi S1 - just an A1 made to look like one. Highly sped up, it takes a few minutes to make this happen. It will probably take Audi a little longer, but make no mistake, we hope they're watching. Follow the jump to watch the transformation unfold on video.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: How to transform an Audi A1 into an S1

Video: How to transform an Audi A1 into an S1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: Audi intent on keeping upcoming A1 premium

Noah Joseph — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Audi, Luxury

Audi A1 Sportback concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

After watching from the sidelines for years as arch-rival BMW found success with the Mini brand, Audi is finally gearing up to jump into the scrum with the new A1. But unlike the Mini One (which slots below the Cooper in overseas markets), Audi doesn't intend to target the budget market. Instead, the new A1 will take aim directly at the Mini Cooper.

Don't expect to see any engine badges on the back of the four-ringed Polo, however, as Audi reportedly intends on keeping the displacement on the A1 hidden. An S1 is tipped to be in the works, but short of that the only thing onlookers will have to distinguish one engine model from another is the exhaust note. Expect the pre-production A1 - previewed by the Metroproject and A1 Sportback concepts - to debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show with sales beginning later next year.

Gallery: Audi A1 Sportback Concept

[Source: EVO]

REPORT: Audi intent on keeping upcoming A1 premium originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Quattro Shock: Forthcoming Audi A1 lineup reportedly to arrive without AWD

Chris Shunk — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:27:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi

Audi Metroproject Quattro Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi and Quattro go together like peanut butter and jelly, but Autobild is reporting that the four-ringed automaker's fabulous all-wheel drive system will be excluded from the forthcoming A1 mini car. We're a little surprised to hear that the Quattro tech won't be added considering that the A1's design study, the Audi Metroproject Quattro Concept, includes the word "Quattro" in its name. Regardless, while this news might be a problem for purists, on the practical side, the inclusion of AWD means additional weight and cost, something that's antithetical to the A1's stated mission.

The A1 will reportedly only be available with one gearbox: a seven speed S-Tronic automatic transmission. Autobild reports that the A1 will be available throughout Europe in August or September of next year, with a sportback version coming online in late 2011 and a cabriolet in early 2012. The S1 will reportedly hit production in February of 2011 with a 1.4-liter TFSI powerplant capable of a very respectable 180 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of 6.9 seconds. There's no word on whether Audi plans to offer the A1 in the U.S., but we should know more when the compact runabout is revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Gallery: Audi metroproject quattro concept

[Source: Autobild via German Car Blog]

Quattro Shock: Forthcoming Audi A1 lineup reportedly to arrive without AWD originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

New details on Audi S1 emerge

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Audi, Rendered Speculation

Image removed at owner's request.

Auto Express got the inside dope on the upcoming Audi S1, and the the compact hatch has its sights set on the MINI Cooper JCW, Fiat 500 Abarth SS, Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA and Volvo C30. Based on the new Audi A1, the S1 will feature a cranked up version of VW/Audi's Twincharger 1.4L TSI four tweaked to produce 200 hp and 221 ft-lb of torque. Power might be down compared to the S1's competitors, but expect the three-door to hold its own with a rear-biased quattro setup, a seven-speed S-Tronic twin-clutch gearbox and a lowered and stiffened suspension that might feature Audi's magnetic dampers. AE is projecting a 0-60 time of around six seconds, an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph and a combined fuel economy of 35 mpg.

The car should look as good as it moves, with styling that apes the metroproject quattro we saw in Tokyo last year. Expect an aggressive bodykit, 19-inch alloys, roof spoiler, and chrome accents. Inside, you'll find a flat-bottomed steering wheel, sport seats and aluminum pedals, along with a version of Audi's mobile electronic device. The dash-mounted Audi iPhone-alternative can actually control some of the car's systems remotely, but we wouldn't be surprised if the system doesn't make it to production for at least another two years. The baby S3 won't be is cheap, so expect the S1 to start at almost double the A1's £13,000 starting price when sales begin abroad next year.

Gallery: 2010 Audi S1 rendering

[Source: Auto Express]

New details on Audi S1 emerge originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Autoblog Night Watch: Walter R�hrl is a bad, bad man...

Alex Nunez — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 00:45:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Videos

...and I mean that in the best, best way.

It's short and sweet, but you get the point. The front-mounted camera perspective demonstrates the utterly ridiculous power of the Audi S1 and the equally ludicrous behavior of the spectators. Röhrl is a surgeon behind the wheel. It's unbelievable, and no, we are not worthy.

Trust me, I'll find more to post over the weekend.

[Source: YouTube]

Autoblog Night Watch: Walter R�hrl is a bad, bad man... originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 09 Dec 2006 00:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments