Audi S1 Sportback lands in Australia from $49,900

Audi has today launched the all-new S1 Sportback in Australia, priced from $49,900 plus on-road costs. Said to evoke the legendary Audi Sport Quattro S1 name from the 1980s, the S1 will sit at the pinnacle of the A1 range.

Read ForceGT‘s Audi S1 Sportback Review here.

“The S1 name is regarded with a certain kind of reverence within Audi,” said Andrew Doyle, Managing Director of Audi Australia.

“The Sport quattro S1 represents such an important part of our racing heritage, and the Audi brand itself, that for a new model to rekindle the same nameplate is very special indeed.

“It is fitting then, that the new S1 Sportback is without rival. No other car of its size can boast such impressive performance credentials, with its powerful 2.0-litre engine, quattro all-wheel drive and a depth of engineering that is unique to this special model,” said Mr Doyle.

The new Audi S1 Sportback is powered by a 2.0-litre TFSI engine that produces 170kW and 370Nm. It is available exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, and is paired with Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive technology for unmatched dynamics.

The S1 Sportback can launch from rest to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, and returns fuel consumption of 7.1 litres per 100km.

Besides being the only model in the A1 range to feature an all-wheel drive system, the S1 also has a unique four-link rear suspension setup. The entire steering and suspension setup is said to be specifically tuned for sporty handling, including switchable dampers that are controlled by the Audi Drive Select system.

The S1 Sportback also boasts larger brakes and an active exhaust system where flaps open in the exhaust system to produce a more sonorous sound under full throttle and in ‘dynamic’ mode.

As expected of any Audi S model, the new S1 Sportback is equipped with an impressive list of standard equipment, including:

• 17-inch alloy wheels in 5-parallel spoke design
• Xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running light and LED rear lights
• MMI Navigation plus, with 20GB hard drive and 2 x SDHC card slots
• Sports seats in combination of cloth and leather, with ‘S1’ embossing
• Pedals and footrest in stainless steel
• Audi parking system, rear
• Audi sound system, with 180w, 10 speakers incl. subwoofer and 6-channel amplifier
• Audi Music Interface with Bluetooth connectivity and audio streaming
• Auto-dimming interior mirror
• Automatic air conditioning
• Light and rain sensor

In addition, the following optional packages are available to buyers who wish to personalise their vehicle:

S performance package – $4,990

• 18” alloy wheels in 5-arm facet design contrasting grey, partly polished
• Front brake calipers in S design red
• S sport front seats
• Fine Nappa leather upholstery with S1 embossing in the front seatbacks
• BOSE surround sound system
• Audi exclusive air vents in aluminium look

quattro® exterior package – $3,990 (not in conjunction with S performance package)

• Xenon headlights with red trim
• Front brake calipers in S design red
• 18” alloy wheels in 5-arm facet design matt black, partly polished
• quattro roof spoiler
• quattro logo on side
• Front bumper with aluminium-look spoiler lip

quattro® interior package – $2,490 (not in conjunction with S performance package)

• Centre console in high-gloss black, red or yellow
• S sport seats in fine Nappa leather with back rest cover in either high-gloss black, red or yellow with quattro logo
• Door armrest in fine Nappa leather in seat colour with contrasting stitching
• Leather covered multi-function 3-spoke sports flat-bottomed steering wheel with S specific contrasting stitching
• Air vent sleeves in high-gloss black with red inner ring
• Floor mats in black with contrasting double piping