If you like your hatchbacks hot, then Audi’s latest A1 supermini could make for a really good purchase. Even if you discount the range-topping 200 PS 40 TFSI version, there’s also an S1 model in the works that’s said to put out 250 horses.
Realistically speaking, that’s probably as far as Audi is going to take the new A1 with regards to performance, but if you want to imagine it in extra-hot RS1 guise, here’s a little help from X-Tomi Design.
He saw fit to think up not just a “simple” RS1 version, but also an RS1 Clubsport Quattro, which actually isn’t all that far fetched, at least as a concept car to draw up some attention at the annual Worthersee meeting.
Actually, Audi unveiled a real-life one-off A1 Clubsport Quattro at the event back in 2011, a car that packed a surreal 503 HP and 660 Nm (487 lb-ft) of torque. It was said to be able to rocket from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds, while making a 0-200 km/h (124 mph) run in just 10.9 seconds. Now just imagine a 2019 or 2020 version of that car.
What about something more practical?
The term Sportback pretty much defeats the purpose of having a genuine Avant (aka estate) in the range. Since Audi never made such a switch with the A3, it’s unlikely they would ever do it for the A1. Still, if you’re a fan of something of compact estates, then you might actually enjoy looking at a more spacious A1 Avant.
As for an A1 Allroad Quattro, as unlikely as it might be, we’d argue that it doesn’t look half bad thanks to the beefy body cladding. It looks rugged and capable, but the chances of it making to production are close to zero, as it would step on the Q2’s toes in terms of sales.