The 228bhp Quattro hatch arrives in the UK. Is it as
good as it seemed in a snowy Sweden last month?
It takes only a short drive along a typical
British back road to work out on which side of Audi’s incomprehensible
performance road car fence the new S1 sits. While on the one side we find the
disappointing RS4 and RS7, both with unnatural steering and a lumpen ride, on
the other reside such delights as the R8 and the S3 Saloon. To the latter
group, we can now add the S1.
Our first exposure to this 228bhp,
four-wheel-drive hot hatch was a little unrepresentative, for the roads of the
launch venue in northern Sweden were largely covered in snow and ice, and the
test car wore winter tyres. Nonetheless, the S1 showed promise, particularly in
its potent drivetrain and the way it dealt with surface imperfections at speed.
The
Audi S1 is fast in all weather conditions
The broken, uneven B-roads around
Northamptonshire have exposed many an over-damped performance car over the
years, but the S1 absorbs the endless lumps and bumps sweetly and without
deflection, keeping its four contact patches determinedly in touch with the
tarmac. Even the firmer damper setting of the Drive Select system’s Dynamic
mode brings with it enough pliancy; in fact, for the extra body control it also
delivers it becomes the default setting for spirited driving, regardless of the
nature of the road surface.
Combined with the unimpeachable traction of
the quattro four-wheel-drive system and the frankly ludicrous 273lb ft of
torque from just 1,600rpm, the S1 is a seriously rapid point-to-point car. In
wet conditions it would certainly stick four exhaust pipes up to anything short
of a Mégane 265, leaving the likes of the Mini Cooper S and Ford Fiesta ST in
its spray.
The
S1 features heavily sculpted front seats
The turbocharged 2-litre engine is best
driven on its table-top torque curve. It pulls with a level of urgency and
muscularity that comes as something of a surprise first time out, and although
there are no reworks at the top end, the final 1,000rpm remains a useable part
of the rev range. The six-speed manual gearbox – the only transmission option
for now – is a little long in its throw, but the gate is tightly defined and
the shift action is slick.
There is never any real sense of
connectivity through the steering wheel, but it is blessedly devoid of the
unpleasant stickiness that afflicts some other fast Audis. The wheel itself
could perhaps reach out an inch or two further towards the driver and the seat
is mounted too high by the same amount, but these are minor criticisms of an
otherwise welcoming driving environment. In fact, the cabin quality is very
impressive indeed for a small hatchback, although our test car is a sea of grey
inside. The optional interior styling pack, with body-coloured trim, would put
that right.
Power
comes from Audi's transverse-mounted 2.0-liter turbo four delivering 228hp and
273lb ft of torque
If that four-wheel-drive system brings
boundless traction at corner exit, it doesn’t add any other dimension to the
driving experience. The S1 will never take an over-steer stance under power,
but it does at least limit the split of torque to the front axle and so reins
in power understeer that way. The chassis itself is responsive to a lift of the
throttle, making the S1 both adjustable mid-corner and entertaining in the
manner of a true hot hatch.
With the premium badge comes a premium
price tag, but it cannot be said that the $41,865 S1 offers poor value for
money. It is one of the most desirable small hot hatches on sale and further
evidence that Audi is very capable of producing sporting cars that aren’t upset
by a demanding road surface.
