New Audi A1 1.4 TFSI S-Line with 185HP Makes its way to Britain

The most powerful version of the new Audi A1 to date, the 185-horse 1.4 TFSI S-Line is now available to order in the UK with prices starting from £20,705 on-the-road (US$32,900). The 1.4-liter supercharged and turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine comes with a standard S tronic seven-speed twin-clutch transmission that transfers power to the front wheels.

Audi says the car can accelerate from rest to 62 mph (100km/h) in 6.9 seconds, and continue on to a 141mph (227 km/h) top speed, while returning a combined fuel efficiency of 47.9 mpg UK (39.9 mpg US or 5.9 lt/100km).

The A1 1.4 TFSI 185HP is equipped with Audi's S-Line packages which include a sports suspension, a bodykit with different bumpers, side skirts and a rear diffuser, plus 17-inch alloy wheels and part leather-upholstered sports seats.

Other standard features include remote central locking, air conditioning, electric front windows and mirrors, Bluetooth mobile phone preparation, Driver’s Information System and a six-speaker single CD audio system with auxiliary iPod connection.

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Senner Tuning Preps Sports Package for Audi A1 1.4 TFSI with 156HP

In its latest take on the new Audi A1, Senner Tuning has released a sports kit for the gasoline powered 1.4 TFSI model. The German tuning firm begins with the 1.4-liter motor which gains a new free-flow air filter, a reconfigured ECU and a custom stainless steel exhaust system. These upgrades help raise output on the gasoline engine from 122 horsepower and 200Nm of torque to 156 horsepower and 250Nm.

The package is complemented by black-polish 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in S1 Evo tires from Hankook, and sports springs that lower the car's ride height by 35mm. The price for the basic tuning kit is €4,590 or the US equivalent to $6,100.

Senner Tuning also offers a variety of other goodies such as a full sports suspension with custom height, rebound and compression adjustment, carbon trim for the interior and LED rear lights. The prices for these options are available on request.

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Audi Testing A1 Quattro Prototype in Canada, First Photos

Ever since the presentation of the all-new A1 in early 2010, we have been wondering if and when Audi will introduce its trademark all wheel drive quattro technology that we've come to know as synonymous with the brand to its premium supermini. Well, it appears that this may happen sooner than expected as the Ingolstadt-based automaker revealed that it is currently testing an unmarked A1 quattro prototype on Canada’s densely snow-packed roads.

The German firm stated that the one-off development car is one of the stars of the ‘Fascination of quattro’ event taking place in Montreal to celebrate the past, present and future of the legendary four-wheel-drive system, which reached its 30th anniversary in 2010.

The all-wheel drive technology used on the A1 prototype is very similar to that found in A3 and TT models. At the heart of the system is an electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated multi-plate clutch located in front of the rear axle. Under normal driving conditions, the clutch sends most of the engine’s power to the front wheels. If the front axle starts losing traction, the clutch can instantly transfer torque to the rear axle by forcing the plate packages together.

Audi's decision to develop an all-wheel drive system for the A1's PQ25 platform, which also underpins the VW Polo, is believed to be linked with the presentation of several new models from the group, including an S1 and possibly and even more powerful RS1 variant, as well as an AWD version of the VW CrossPolo and a range-topping Polo R.

Currently, the most potent model of the A1 series is the front-wheel drive 185HP 1.4 TFSI, which was launched at the Paris Motor Show last September.

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