Only 333 examples are going to be built, but the bad news for enthusiasts in the UK is that - for now at least - they are all destined to be left-hand drive. On the face of it then, a strange decision by Audi to ignore one of its most important European markets…
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| 2012 Audi A1 quattro. Scroll down for more images. |
That the A1 quattro appears to be an appealing package makes the situation even worse. Incorporating permanent all-wheel drive, a 252 bhp (188 kW / 256 PS) 2.0 litre TFSI engine and a six-speed manual transmission into a supermini chassis is a guaranteed recipe for brisk performance.
And the figures bear that out: acceleration from zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) is claimed to take just 5.7 seconds, while the top speed is 152 mph (245 km/h). Fuel economy isn’t great though, with the A1 quattro expected to achieve a mediocre combined cycle figure of around 33.2 mpg (8.5 l/100km).
There certainly should be no problem distinguishing the A1 quattro from lesser variants. Only available in Glacier White with a contrasting high-gloss black roof, it also features a prominent rear spoiler, polished exhaust pipes and unique front and rear bumpers. Completing the package are red-painted ‘wings’ that sit within the headlights and white 18-inch ‘Turbine’ design alloy wheels.
The inside is dominated by ‘S’ design front sports seats that come trimmed in black Nappa leather with red stitching. That colour scheme is carried over to the chunky flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, which also bears the car’s build number. Standard equipment is generous and includes cruise control, park distance control, automatic air conditioning, satellite navigation, a CD changer, DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity.
Sales of the Audi A1 Quattro are due to begin sometime in the second half of 2012, but pricing has yet to be confirmed.
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