Audi A1 to receive Quattro AWD

Audi's A1 subcompact is a neat little car. It's a nicely German take on the whole Mini Cooper/Fiat 500 segment - tiny but filled with aluminum and steel and Vorschprung durch Technik.  You can even get it with a powerful 180bhp 1.4TSI motor.  But up until now, the one thing it's been lacking was, oddly enough, four wheel drive.

Considering Audi is a brand who's reputation is based around four-wheel-drive, that's sort of an unusual oversight on their part.  So it's not surprising that they would work quickly to fix this lack of Quattro grip.  Audi announced today that they're working on a 4WD version of the A1, and all of a sudden this overpriced subcompact starts to make some sense.

The Quattro system in the A1 will be similar to the system used in the A3 and TT - Audi's other transverse-engined cars.  Produced by the Haldex brand, it uses an electronically controlled wet multi-plate clutch at the rear axle to apportion torque when the front wheels start to slip.  While this system isn't as reactive as Audi's Torsen 4WD with active rear diff (like in their longitudinal engined cars), it's what works given the packaging constraints of the tiny A1 chassis.

Audi says the A1 Quattro is currently under development in the wintry wasteland of Montreal, undergoing cold-weather testing.  They haven't released any details as to what engines will be available with the A1 Quattro, but my best guess would be that it'll be an option on the top-of-the-line gas and diesel engines - that is, the 122bhp and 178bhp 1.4TSI, and the 1.6 TDI motors.

Audi hasn't released pricing information yet either, only offering up two photos of an orange-hued prototype.  When the A1 Quattro goes in sale in the near future, it will mean that every single model in Audi's lineup offers Quattro AWD as standard or an option.  Glad to see some brands still sticking to their traits!  Meanwhile, let's cross our fingers and continue hoping that Audi sends some A1's our way.