
The Audi S1 entered the South African market in 2014 as a compact, premium pocket rocket.
It revived the name of the legendary Quattro Sport S1 from 1985 that dominated the Group B rally championships with the revolutionary Quattro all-wheel-drive system.
Weighing in at a not-that-lightweight 1,315kg, the new Audi boasted a powerful 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol engine, six-speed manual gearbox, Quattro system, independent sports suspension, 310mm brakes, and a four-link rear axle that let it equally intimidate hot hatches of the time.
With 170kW and 370Nm to work with, the small S1 claimed 100km/h in a fleeting 5.8 seconds and went on to a top speed of 250km/h.
It was also a nimble creation with all four tyres constantly receiving power, resulting in the Audi being within a 10th of a second away from the potent BMW 550i xDrive as well as the Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic around Germany’s 3.7km Sachsenring.
Even though the S1 was never a limited edition it didn’t find much favour in the local market, likely due to its substantial starting price of R442,000 in 2014.
During its time on sale – 2014 to 2018 – the hatchback only sold 92 units in South Africa split between 18 three-door and 74 five-door models, Audi South Africa confirmed to TopAuto.
With the new generation of A1 Audi also opted to discontinue the S1 badge altogether, meaning there’s a slim chance we’ll see such a small, four-wheel-drive, and powerful Audi again.
S1 in 2022
Nowadays when the topic of cool hot hatches from the previous decade is brought up you’ll hardly ever hear the S1 being mentioned, which is quite sad.
This hatchback deserves to sit among the ranks of the most famous pocket rockets with its no-compromises, performance-focused underpinnings and athletic design.
These models might not be that widely available, but at mid-June at least four were on offer on the pre-owned market between R330,000 and R390,000.
For those keen on the hunt, the S1 presents an opportunity to get into something truly unique, rare, and hot – both in looks and performance – of which fewer than 91 others will ever be seen on the local roads.
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