Audi RS1 (render)
According to French
publication Automoto, the much talked about Audi RS1 will debut at March's
Geneva Motor Show 2017.
Back in 2014, Audi said
that it had no intention of adorning the baby A1 with an RS badge, leaving the
punchy S1 as the most focused and performance-oriented model (excluding the
limited-run A1 Quattro). It seems that Audi has changed its tune however,
understandably so given the ever-swelling hot hatch market.
An internal source from
Audi has confirmed the news that an RS1 will borrow the 2.0-liter turbocharged
four-cylinder from the larger S3 and the Volkswagen Golf R. If true, that means
the model would likely pump out a little over 300 hp, well up on the 231 hp of
the S1.
When combined with Audi's
fabled quattro all-wheel drive system and a six-speed manual transmission, an
RS1 could prove particularly popular. Considering the vehicle's small size, it
could be capable of keeping pace with a range of more powerful hatchbacks, like
the Ford Focus RS. If Audi does indeed
produce an RS1, it will have to ensure it doesn't cannibalize sales of the RS3,
as the M2 is threatening to do with the M4.
