Geneva 2014: Audi S1

by Derek Kreindler

Published: March 5th, 2014

Here’s a European hot hatch that I truly wish we got, despite the impossible market realities that prevent it from being offered here.

Despite being the size of the Polo, Audi has shoehorned the much larger 2.0T engine from the bigger MQB cars, with this variant making 230 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. 60 mph comes up in an awfully conservative 5.8 seconds, and yes, you can get a real manual gearbox as well as all-wheel drive.

#Audi #AudiS1 #Geneva2014

Derek Kreindler

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9 of 22 comments

Buzzyrpm on Mar 05, 2014

very mediocre styling for the segment IMO. The front trunk looks like a clam shell and the all black roof is overdone.

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- Th009 on Mar 06, 2014
  
  Front trunk? The clamshell hood (bonnet) is an A1/S1 design element. The black roof, on the other hand, is optional. fourtitude.com/news/Audi_News_1/detail-audi-s1-s1-sportback/
  
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- Corey Lewis on Mar 06, 2014
  
  @th009 It just looks like a 500L to me.
  
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- Buzzyrpm on Mar 06, 2014
  
  @th009 My error :) Ive owned MR2s for too long. In the MR2 there is indeed a trunk in the front.
  
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- Th009 on Mar 06, 2014
  
  @buzzyrpm I can relate, I did have a 914 a long time ago as well ...
  
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- Lorenzo on Mar 06, 2014
  
  As soon as I saw it, I thought, this is what the 1958 Rambler American would look like if it were updated.
  
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Macca on Mar 06, 2014

From certain angles, the slab sides, high beltline, blunt nose and pronounced swage line bring the Alfa Romeo SZ to mind, one of my favorite car quirky designs. That and the black roof. I really like it.

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Suto on Mar 06, 2014

Having seen a 500L in person, This is much less dumpy. Full disclosure, I think that Audi's are the best looking cars on the road. Would never pay for one though, given they are overpriced and cramped inside (at least up to and including the A4). I hear most are a little dull to drive, but I have never driven one. The 500L should not be branded as a 500 at all, the look is so far removed from the regular one. It is further from the basic 500 than any of the Mini spin offs are from the regular one.

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IHateCars on Mar 06, 2014

I like this...nice! I was behind a Focus ST in traffic the other day thinking that Ford should build an AWD version of the ST with some more power and make it an SVT Focus. AWD boosted hot hatches are a cool segment.

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