Everything You Need To Know About The New Audi S1

We've already had a good preview of the new Audi S1 courtesy of yesterday's leak, but now all the details and pictures are officially here.

As expected, power comes from a 2.0-litre four-pot TFSI engine, developing 228bhp and 273lb/ft of torque which power all four wheels. That'll see the 0-60mph dash dispatched in 5.8 seconds for the three-door model, and 5.9 seconds for the slightly bulkier five-door 'Sportback'. Both are limited to a top speed of 155mph.

The good news keeps on coming, as this thing has a proper, six-speed manual gearbox. No Renault Clio RS-style padleshift-only nonsense going on here.

Aside from the quad exhaust (which seems a little OTT on a small hatch, despite now being de rigueur on Audi S models) it's reasonably restrained on the outside. Over the standard A1, you get a bigger pair of intakes on the front bumper, a cheeky lip spoiler, side skirts, a small boot spoiler and a rear diffuser. Enough to let people know this isn't an ordinary A1, without shouting about it. Provided, of course, you don't go for the yellow/black colour combo seen in these press shots - which we actually rather like.

Combined fuel economy figures sit at 40.4mpg for the three-door and 39.8mpg for the Sportback, while emissions are 162g/km and 166g/km CO2 respectively. The price for all this? The three-door weighs in at £24,900, while the Sportback is a smidge more at £25,630.

This puts the S1 in something of a no-man's land when it comes to rivals. It's considerably more expensive than the likes of the Ford Fiesta ST, Peugeot 208 GTi and Renault Clio RS - which all sit under the £20k mark - but then it's considerably quicker than all three, and is the only four-wheel drive car in the segment. The closest thing the S1 might have to a rival is the rumoured Fiesta RS, should that actually become a reality.

The S1 will make its public debut at the Geneva motor show in March, and will be available in the UK later in the same month.

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