A turbocharged 250bhp engine and four-wheel-drive traction will make the next Audi S1 the fastest and most powerful car in its class.
Expected in late 2019, the second-generation S1 will use a higher-powered version of the Volkswagen Group’s EA888 turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. Combined with a Haldex-style quattro system, this should enable the S1 to trim several tenths from the 5.9sec 0-62mph time of its five-door predecessor.
The new S1 will also benefit from the enhanced structural rigidity provided by the new A1’s MQB A0 platform. This is stronger than the old car’s PQ25 underpinnings and uses 27% ultra-high-strength composites in the bodyshell.
Although Audi has yet to confirm the next S1, Autocar understands that it's set for sale because it acts as an effective halo product to lure younger buyers to the brand. Much of the success of this philosophy can be seen in the wider range of the new A1, which is far sportier even in standard trim.
The A1's exterior designer, Jürgen Löffler, told Autocar that Audi’s rallying heritage inspired the look of its new supermini.
The S1 is therefore expected to receive more Quattro-esque features as well as a larger rear wing, and white wheels are under consideration.
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