2012 Audi A1 Quattro

Audi has removed the sheet from one of their latest additions in their car fleet – the Audi A1 Quattro. Although the production of this Quattro hot hatch has been limited to a set number of 333 vehicles, the car is expected to be produced in left hand drive. It will feature a 2.0 liter turbocharged petrol engine, which has been heavily inspired by the engines of Audi S3 and Volkswagen Golf R. The limited edition creation by Audi will be available in the Glacier White color. One close look and you will see that every bit of the Quattro hatch gives out raw power, style and tonnes of meanness.

What does it offer?

Audi A1 Quattro will feature an electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated multi plate clutch. These plates will be one of the main features of the system and the package will revolve in an oil bath. At the same time, the 2.0 TFSI generates and delivers its power to the car’s interior with the help of a shifting six-speed transmission. The front wheels get all the power from the clutch when the hatchback is driven normally. But in case there is a dip in the traction, the clutch can shift the torque in a few milliseconds to the rear axle. It also has a pressure reservoir that will work in tandem with the electric pump to develop the oil pressure.

The beauty

The rally inspired Audi A1 Quattro will create ripples when it hits the roads. The four-wheel drive is an 188kW version of its entry level A1. Audi slipped down the memory lane and pulled out the idea from the 1980s rallying days. This gives A1 Quattro an aggressive style that has been clubbed with power- packed features. The mechanical specifications will be matched well with the inside space that will prove to be nothing but a true call of luxury.

The powertrain

The subcompact hatch will come injected with powerful traits besides looks to die for. The all-wheel drive will be wedged with a 2.0 liter turbocharged direct inject engine, which is similar to the one that comes fitted in the S3. This will make the A1 Quattro produce a horsepower of 252 or 188kW at 6000 rpm and a torque of 258 pound-feet or 350 Nm at 2500 to 4500 rpm. This means that the limited edition will be superior to the standard yet very powerful than the 1.4-liter A1 as it is able to come up with 70 and 74 lb-ft more horsepower and torque, respectively.

The Thrill

The exquisite creation will definitely manage to send in thrill chills when the paddle is pressed. It will match up with the S3 as it jumps from zero to 60 mph in as less as 5.3 seconds, which is a good 1.2 seconds quicker than the 1.4-liter A1. The attention-grabbing hatchback will reach 152 mph or 245 km/h on the top speed graph.

Interiors

The car’s interiors have been bathed in a combination of red and black. While the seats have been made out of Silk Nappa leather, the seams have been stitched in contrasting red color. Decorating the interiors are a set of bolsters, integrated head restraints and an extensive set of backrest covers.

The interiors of the Quattro look stunning and command a definite respect when it comes to style. The footrests have been made out of stainless steel while the steering wheel has also been decked in the red and black contrast. The dashboard has been instilled with a red tachometer, white needles and just lots of fancy pins. The interiors of the car have been made to simply sweep the lookers off their feet.

Exteriors

Compared to the interiors, the exteriors of the hatchback have been dressed in white completely. Right from the 8.0 J x 18 cast alloy wheels to the exclusive turbine design of the wheels, everything about this model is gripping. Audi A1 Quattro has made use of the 225-35/series tires which are befitted with black calipers.

The car has a magnificent sun roof and has been painted high gloss black. The black and red combination has been carried out to the front as well. The headlights have been painted red while the single frame grille is jet black.

Although it may be noted that the color combination is not unique to the Audi Quattro only, the way the combination has been fused together makes the car stand out even from a distance.

Should I buy one?

Audi A1 Quattro is a great bend of style, luxury and performance. The fully equipped hatchback comes embedded with a lot of modern facilities that will make it a ride to remember.

The presence of a digital radio tuner, CD changer, Bose sound system, woofers and an Audi music interface will keep passengers entertained. It will unfurl special web services, thanks to the Audi connect that will make good use of the Bluetooth online car phone. This will also let the user access Google Earth while traveling from one place to the other. The hatchback will come integrated with WLAN hotspot that can be connected to the passenger’s mobile gadgets.

A1 Quattro adapts traits of many luxury creations, which include automatic air conditioning, cruise control, rear parking system, convenience key, light and rain sensor, xenon plus headlights, LED interior lighting package, high-beam assistant, adaptive brake lights, storage package, alarm system and automatically dimming interior mirror. All these features make Audi A1 Quattro a desirable creation which will pamper passengers while lending complete comfort.

Price and availability

Only 333 units will be made and the hatchback will be available from the second half of 2012 in selected European markets. Though the price has not be specified yet, the car is expected to come stashed with a price tag that will be more than $32,453.