Audi S1 becomes Audi A1 1.4 TFSI

The Audi S1 becomes the Audi A1 1.4 TFSI

Audi has decided that the new S1 will NOT get the S1 moniker, but will be known as the Audi A1 1.4 TFSI.

Audi let it leak they were working on making a hot version of the Audi A1, and we fully expected that the Audi S1 would turn up at the Paris Motor Show. So when we heard that Audi had confirmed – but without detail – that the Audi S1 would be at Paris everything made sense, apart from the lack of detail.

But now we know why we got no detail – Audi has backtracked on the S1 and has instead planted the oily bits from the Polo GTI in to an A1 and Christened it the Audi A1 1.4 TFSI. Which is what it is. But it looks as if the lack of quattro drive has made Audi down-grade the importance of the hot A1 to mere A1+ instead of S1.

But the package is the same. The 1.4 turbo and supercharged lump from the Polo GTI produces 182bhp (up by 4bhp from the Polo) which will all be shoved through the front wheels by a seven-speed DSG gearbox which adds up to a 0-60mph time of 6.9 seconds.

Fuel economy comes in at 47.9 mph (real world around 40mpg) and emissions drop in at 139g/km. Standard kit includes 17″ alloys, S line exterior package, AirCon and the LED interior light package. Euro price is €24,250, but we don’t have a UK price yet.

First Audi A1 1.4 TFSIs are expected to hit the roads by the end of the year, but it will probably be second quarter 2011 before they get here.

Without the quattro you may well be better off opting for the Polo GTI. Now, if it had been a proper S1…