Audi continues to forge ahead year after year with its finely crafted vehicles, pushing the boundaries of performance and quality to ever-higher levels. At the top of its model tree sit the RS models, cars that have been created to defy the laws of physics and provide the ultimate in driving pleasure, with the RS6 being the best all-round performance car ever made. Often overlooked, however, and only down one rung on the hierarchy ladder, is the large array of S-badged cars. These are offerings from Audi that, in the real world, can offer up just as much performance as the RS line but at a more sensible price and without the horrific running costs.
While not as ferocious as the full-fat RS models, most S-badged cars, like the awesome Audi S4, tend to be easier to live with away from a racetrack and a friendlier proposition when hustled along at speed. With a healthy and thick compendium of S-badged models to choose from, running all the way back to the fabulous 1996 4.2-liter S8 of Ronin film fame, it would have been easy to have forgotten about Audi's smallest fast car. Based on the cute little A1 city car, and packing more punch than many of its larger rivals. These are 10 reasons why every gearhead should drive an Audi S1 supermini.
10 Don't Let The Size Fool You
In the grand scheme of things, the Audi S1 supermini isn't considerably smaller than the first generation of Audi's S3 hot hatch, which underlines how much bigger modern cars have got over the years and how the brand's own model line has bloated out.
The best things, though, do come in small packages, and whilst not having masses of internal space on offer the S1 will still seat four in relative comfort, swallow a trunk full of shopping and slip into the smallest parking spaces.
9 It Kills The Competition
When faced with its direct rivals the diminutive S-badged Audi annihilates the competition, thanks to its Quattro all-wheel-drive system and powerful engine, a Mini Cooper S or VW Polo GTI just don't have what it takes to keep up.
Even when faced with bigger rivals in the shape of the VW Golf GTI or Ford Focus ST, the Audi S1 shows them a clean set of tail lights on the open road, before leaving both of them for dead when the weather turns foul.
8 Every Bit A Fast Audi
Just because it's Audi's smallest offering, don't go thinking that things have been skimped on, from the front grille to the rear tailpipes the Audi S1 is every bit as special as any other S-badged model and is happy to prove it.
Only offered with a manual transmission, a nod to its true performance roots, the Audi S1 is simply a throwback revelation that signifies how much fun can be had in a small, light, fiercely powerful for its size, well-sorted performance car.
7 Ticks All The Right Boxes
Having built up a solid and respected reputation for offering some of the finest built cars on the planet, the Audi S1 reaffirms this by being a compact wonder, beautifully packaged and aggressively styled it looks the part wherever it goes.
Sumptuously trimmed, the cockpit features highly supportive racing seats, intuitive Audi MMI media interface, push-button start and thought-out tactile surfaces that welcome the driver into an inviting, comfortable environment.
6 Fun In And Out Of Town
A true pocket rocket the small exterior dimensions of the S1 make it a joy to maneuver along packed city streets, with plenty of power on tap it is able to duck and dive through gaps in traffic that larger vehicles would struggle to navigate.
With the city in the rearview, the S1 can finally stretch its little legs, spooling up its 228hp from a turbocharged 2.0-liter unit that in turn allows it to rocket to 60 mph in an impressive 5.7 seconds before hitting a limited 155mph flat out.
5 More Power Is Available, Obviously
Having been fitted with the same engine as the larger Audi S3, there are plenty of tuning options for those seeking more power, and simply opting for an easy-to-find and cost-efficient engine remap will unleash a further 64hp and 72 lb-ft of torque.
From here, and like most performance Audi's, the sky is the limit with an array of third-party body kits, performance parts, and mechanical upgrades all being available, meaning that the ultimate S1 supermini is a mere project build away.
4 The Tini Giant Slayer
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Sharing its performance designation with the legendary 80s Group B Rally car monster, the S1 supermini encapsulates the spirit of that car by rewriting the small car rule book, moving the benchmark to all-new unexpected levels.
On a racetrack, the S1 makes the most of its high power output, Quattro system, and lightweight to run rings around established exotic cars that not only cost more but deliver much higher horsepower, using its sharp handling to bloody their noses.
3 A Mode For All Moods
Looking to attack a favorite section of twisting road, then best select Dynamic mode as it'll stiffen the adaptive suspension, weight up the steering, sharpen the throttle response and open the exhaust sound actuator for a full-on sporting effect.
Yet when a more relaxing pace is needed, dropping the S1 into its Economy setting will soften things up for a more comfortable ride, lighten the steering and also dial back power to 80% to increase those all-important fuel efficiency figures.
2 Sure-Footed Quattro Appeal
The backbone of the Audi range is its famous, and groundbreaking, Quattro all-wheel-drive system that not only bestows its vehicles with an extra element of usability, and added safety, but underpins the performance dynamics of its fastest cars.
Providing the S1 with an almost unique sales feature within this segment, the Quattro system allows the potent little car to harness all its power, allowing it to hunt out grip where others would struggle, and to make rapid progress all year round.
1 Subtle, Yet Aggressive
Carrying over the distinct brand styling from its larger stablemates, the Audi S1 has gained a number of additions over its standard form with larger alloy wheels, deeper valances, and a set of quad exhaust pipes all being purposefully added.
Well-defined from the lesser models the S1 isn't an overtly noticeable performance car, the styling is aggressive yet subtle enough to be considered classy, which is exactly what you would expect from a high-powered, hard-charging Audi.