Audi A1 2.0-litre TFSI Quattro prototype 2011 Pictures 
gallery (2 photos)
Background: Teased at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and first made available to drive as a concept in Canada earlier in the year as a 1.4-litre TFSI, now a 2.0-litre TFSI quattro prototype has emerged and this will be the first of the all-wheel drive A1s to go on sale.
Pros and Cons: It has all the exhilaration and dynamics you would expect from a hot-hatch; the free spinning engine and superglue grip of the all-wheel drive system just adds to the pleasure. However the cabin is a little bland, the seats are quite cramped and I can imagine getting pretty frustrated trying to cram a whole family’s gear in to the boot.
First impressions
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Audi don’t do things in half measures. They bring a car to market and then give it every type of conceivable permutation to insure it’ll appeal to as many people as possible. So we shouldn’t be too surprised to learn that they are about to unleash a version of the A1 which will have boy racers of all ages biting the back of their hands with delight.
From the outset it doesn’t appear too much different from its smaller, less powerful siblings. It has all the usual cabin refinements and build quality we’ve come to expect from Audi, yet when it’s given the full-beans this supermini takes on a whole new persona. No more is it the thinking mans rival for the likes of the Mini, no Sur-ee, it’s now become all wanton with a faint whiff of psychosis.
In essence, what Audi has done is transform the A1 into the automotive version of Charles Manson, waiting to reek havoc wherever it goes. The Quattro just adds to the fun and then there’s the noise which is expelled from the exhaust pipe; nothing this small, or this refined, should have a roar so loud it can frighten sleeping children into peeing themselves.
Performance
The 2.0-litre petrol is the same 208bhp turbocharged unit that’s used across Audi’s range. It is a peach of an engine, rasping and snarling to its power peak and in our car this was coupled to a six-speed manual transmission. No figures have been released, but Audi has said unofficially that a 0-62mph time of 5.9 seconds is possible, a full second faster than a Golf GTI, and top speed will be electronically limited to 155mph.
Ride and handling
It uses the same Haldex all-wheel drive Quattro system found in the TT and the hotter TT-RS, so we knew how well it worked before we even drove it, but in this smaller car, it proved to be even more fun. Power and torque is swapped 100 per cent from front to rear instantly and keeps the A1 exactly where it’s been pointed. Our session to drive this car was on a frozen lake at Audi’s very secret test facility somewhere in Sweden (seriously, that’s as much as we can tell you) and at no time did it ever feel out of control. Even when we turned-off the electronic safety nannies it just danced over the ice as if it were a full-pedigree rally car.
The ride is expectedly firm, with shocks up-rated to match the A1s new performance (the Audi engineers were keen to stress the suspension set-up still hasn’t been finalised) yet it’s not so harsh that you feel your vertebra fusing together if a speed hump is taken with too much verve.
Interior
There are few surprises within the cabin. It’s the same layout as the rest of the A1 range: the back is a bit cramped for adults and the cargo area is not exactly voluminous and, if we’re being really, really truthful, the interior can be a little dull. So, Audi, if you happen to be reading this, on the full production model; please include a few touches to remind the driver this is no ordinary A1.
Economy and safety
Because this is still at the prototype stage we have to wait for official figures to be published, but talking to the engineers they are working towards it returning an average of at least 40mpg and hope it won’t spew out much more than 180g/km of CO2 emissions. Also, expect to see a full range of safety acronyms – ABS, EBS etc - included in the finished product.
The Verdict:
It’s got enough refinement and power to worry larger rivals and despite having supermini dimensions the grip ensures that its big engine is kept in check.
Technical Spec:
Engine: 2.0-litre TFSI,
Power: 208bhp
Transmission: 6-speed manual
0-62mph: 5.9 seconds
Top Speed: 155mph
Econ: 40mpg (estimated)
CO2: 180g/km (estimated)
CAR MAKE & MODEL
Audi A1 2.0-litre TFSI Quattro prototype 2011 Pictures
CAR REF NUMBER
36917
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TOTAL VIEWS: 2,913
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