on the rally tracks of a legend: the new AUDI S1 and S1 sportback

on the rally tracks of a legend: the new AUDI S1 and S1 sportback
AUDI S1 sportback (vegas yellow)
image courtesy AUDI AG

a great name makes its comeback: the AUDI S1 and S1 sportback is the unrivaled embodiment of a compact sports car, following the rally tracks of a legend. it was 30 years ago – october 4, 1984, ivory coast rally, eleventh and penultimate round in the world rally championship – that swedish driver stig blomqvist won the race in the AUDI sport quattro with a lead of 22 minutes. now the vehicle with a legendary reputation is back in action, but this time as a road-worthy version: the AUDI S1 and the S1 sportback constitute the new flagship models in the compact A1 line (combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7.1 – 3.8 [33.13 – 61.90 US mpg]; combined CO2 emission in g/km: 166 – 99 [267.15 – 159.33 g/mile]), adding an entry-level version to the AUDI S model portfolio.

AUDI S1 sportback
image courtesy AUDI AG

all the modifications to the vehicle, including the new four-link rear axle, the quattro permanent all-wheel drive, and the powerful 2.0 TFSI, make it agile and dynamic. its fully fledged everyday practicality makes it the ideal driving machine for daily needs. these characteristics turn the AUDI S1 and the S1 sportback into a benchmark for their class.

video courtesy AUDI AG

a high-performance four-cylinder unit provides the drive. the 2.0 TFSI fitted with a turbocharger develops 231 horsepower and produces up to 272.90 lb-ft of torque. the two-liter engine accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 5.8 and 5.9 seconds respectively. like all AUDI S models, the S1 and the S1 sportback also come with quattro permanent all-wheel drive on board. at its heart is a hydraulic dual-plate clutch located on the rear axle.

AUDI S1 sportback driving on ice – a frozen lake in åre, sweden
image courtesy AUDI AG

the four oval tailpipes on the exhaust system with their elliptical trims are an eye-catching feature at the rear. other exterior modifications such as a large roof spoiler, striking bumpers and side sills also underline the sporty characteristics and powerful appearance.

image courtesy AUDI AG

the body on both models establishes the foundation for the exact, sporty handling, a quiet cabin and safety. a length of 3,975 mm, a width of 1,740 mm and 1,746 mm and a height of 1,417 mm, combined with a short wheelbase guarantee superb dynamism and pure driving pleasure.

AUDI S1, AUDI S1 sportback with the colors vegas yellow, misano red and viper green
image courtesy AUDI AG

the powerfully drawn bumpers provide a beefy road-hugging look, the contours around the air intakes are boldly shaped. the single frame grille is platinum gray with twin horizontal chrome bars and features an S1 badge.

AUDI S1 sportback
image © designboom

AUDI quattro S1
image © designboom

stig blomqvist and AUDI
when he was just twelve years old, stig blomqvist’s father took him along as his co-driver in a regional rally in his home city örebro, sweden. at the age of 18, he effortlessly won his first rally in the junior class, and second place overall, driving a two-stroke saab 96 sport. he remained with the saab team until the brand’s exit from rallying. in 1981, he also won british rally championship in a talbot. at the end of 1982, together with his co-pilot of many years björn cederberg, blomqvist joined the rally team from ingolstadt. with the nickname ‘the snow king’, he demonstrated his skill with the four-wheel drive AUDI quattro. during the four years of his membership of the AUDI team, he drove 48 times national and international rallies for the ingolstadt brand, and scored 21 first places, 8 seconds, 2 thirds, 4 fourths and a fifth. the world championship victory with the AUDI quattro S1 on october 4, 1984 is the highpoint of his great career as a rally driver – perhaps the most magical moment in the great history of AUDI rally sport. for the AUDI team this meant not only celebrating the second manufacturers’ world championship title, following one in 1982, but also the first win in a world championship round for the newly developed AUDI sport quattro.

swedish rally driver stig blomqvist inside the AUDI quattro S1
image © designboom

onboard with stig blomqvist
designboom met the two rally legends – the original AUDI quattro S1, and swedish rally driver stig blomqvist – in sweden, to experience the parallels of the all-terrain vehicle and its new road-worthy version. blomqvist took us for a ride on the icy tracks in the scandinavian woods of åre – an unforgettable experience, thank you!

anita hackethal (designboom) onboard with stig blomqvist
image courtesy AUDI AG