ABT Has Revealed The 236bhp 'S1' That Audi Won’t Make

If Audi’s decision not to build a new S1 has left you a little downcast, fear not. ABT has fettled the current car to create something with a bit more flavour.

The A1 already looks surprisingly aggressive in the sportier trim packages Audi offers, so it seemed a no-brainer to us to build an S1 out of it. They haven’t, though, which has left the door open for the aftermarket.

Key to ABT’s efforts to plug the gap is a 39bhp power boost, from 197bhp to 236bhp. The old official car had 231bhp. Torque is up as well, from 233lb ft to 266lb ft. That should give the A1 a useful pocket of extra shove at all speeds, lowering the 2.0-litre A1 40 TFSI’s 0-62mph sprint time from 6.5 seconds to more like 6.1, we think. It’ll certainly feel quick enough, but shouldn’t stress the car’s dual-clutch transmission too much.

As it happens we weren’t too keen on the standard 197bhp A1, but the power boost here might reintroduce some of that absent pep back to Audi’s smallest hatchback.

As per the ABT norm you can choose pieces of the overall tuning package, so you could leave it at just the engine map or you could add the 25-30mm lowering springs that still work with Audi’s ‘sport’ dampers or even the factory-fitted adaptive dampers. The meaner-looking ride height suits the A1’s angry bodywork better and gives it more of the S1 vibe that we’re missing.

Buy the whole package and you’ll save around 20 per cent on the separate prices, says ABT. It comes with special 18-inch ABT Sport GR alloy wheels shod with Continental PremiumContact 6 boots. This 10-spoke wheel comes in either a matt black or a gloss black with diamond-machined rim, as pictured.

Prices aren’t yet known for the UK market, but Richter Sport in Bletchley is handling official ABT work this side of the Channel. If you have a 197bhp A1 and you want some upgrades, you know who to call.