Audi S1

No sooner had I taken delivery of the new S3 Saloon for a week of road-testing than I was summoned to the Cotswolds to try out the German firm's even newer pocket rocket, the S1.

A natural evolution of the big-selling A1, this is what Audi does best: high perforrmance and top-notch quality combined with reassuring quattro grip.

It comes with three or five doors and a tried and tested 2.0-litre turbocharged TFSI engine that develops 231PS and the highest torque in its class.

Matched with the the latest generation of quattro permanent all-wheel drive system, you have a formidable machine that puts the power cleanly down on to the road.

Audi points out that the S1 is not only class-leading for torque but also acceleration and top speed. It shoots from 0 to 62mph in a fraction under six seconds and will continue to a limited top speed of 155mph.

Yet an average 40.4mpg is still achievable in the three-door, or 39.8mpg in the Sportback (five-door) version. This equates to CO2 emissions of 162 and 166 grams per kilometre respectively.

Boot volume suffers slightly when compared with the regular A1, and there will obviously be a price to pay when you get an insurance quote, but otherwise its all good news.

There's only one specification, with prices starting at £24,905, and Audi has plenty of options and both interior and exterior styling packages to offer that could see the price tag surge past £30,000.

However, Audi has been generous with the standard equipment, which includes sports suspension with variable dampers, Xenon plus headlights and Audi drive select, which enables vehicle characteristics to be adapted.

The 2.0-litre TFSI unit responds instantly to throttle pedal commands; the response is honed further if dynamic mode is selected on the Audi drive select dynamic handling system. The driver can also use Audi drive select to alter the sound – courtesy of a sound actuator which boosts the intake noise, and a variable flap in the exhaust system which opens at high load and speed.

Build quality is superb. Audi is at pains to point out that there's no question of cutting corners on this, the smallest and cheapest of Audi's quattro cars, and the technology employed is just as impressive.

Indeed, a highlight of the four-cylinder engine is the additional indirect injection, which supplements the FSI petrol direct injection under partial load. This reduces fuel consumption and particulate emissions. FSI injection, with its up to 200 bar pressure, comes into play in the starting phase and at higher loads.

A manual six-speed gearbox with a housing made out of magnesium transfers the power from the engine. It features short, precise throws, while sixth gear is long to reduce fuel consumption.

The exterior lighting is all-new. The striking feature of the standard xenon plus headlights is the innovative graphics of the daytime running lights.

The exterior mirror housings also have a new look as well as the customary aluminium-effect S finish. Angular side sills hone the profile, and the S roof spoiler lengthens the roof line. On the three-door model, the roof arch can be finished in four contrasting colours, while the five-door model offers a choice of three contrasting colours for the roof as a whole.

Add to these features the four oval tailpipes on the exhaust system with their elliptical trims and you have a stunning package that may not be to the taste of your average boy racer but will do nicely for the Audi brand thrill-seeker with a wallet that does not open wide enough for the bigger offerings.

Black dominates the interior – in the headlining, the instrument panel, the centre console, the door trim, the carpet and the sports seats, which feature side bolsters, height adjustment and a lumbar support. They are trimmed in a combination of cloth and leather as standard, while full fine Nappa leather is also available as an option.

And customers seeking exclusivity can select the quattro interior styling package. It includes the S sport seats with integrated headrests, and adds a high gloss finish for the door panels, centre console and the backrests of the seats in either black, red or yellow, plus a multifunction steering wheel with a flat-bottomed ri.

Audi also offers a host of infotainment and communications components. Bluetooth connectivity with voice control and the concert radio with DAB module, single CD player and a 6.5-inch manually retractable colour display form the standard configuration, and to this customers can ‘bolt on’ options such as SD card-based or hard disk-based satellite navigation systems, Audi Music Interface iPod connection and Audi connect in-car internet-based services.

The optional technology package includes the Audi Music Interface and MMI navigation plus delivered to a higher resolution colour display by a 40GB hard drive (20GB of which can be used to store up to 8,000 songs), plus an additional SDHC card reader, a DVD player and more advanced speech recognition technology allowing the driver to enter the navigation address, and also control the main radio, media and telephone functions by voice.

A number of additional options are available to complement these advanced features, including a six-disc CD changer, a 465-watt, 14-speaker BOSE surround sound speaker system upgrade with LED-lit woofers and Audi phonebox, which wirelessly connects a mobile phone to the car’s aerial and navigation unit simply by placing it into the phone box tray.

But remember, all these extra soon add up. Those tempted by them will soon find the price tag touching or passing £30,000. But if you want what Audi does best in a small package then this is the car to go for, with or without the options.

At a glance

Audi S1

Price: £24,700 (Sportback 5-dr £25,630)

Engine: Four cylinder turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol, producing 231PS

Transmission: Six-speed manual

Performance: 0 to 62mph in 5.8 seconds; top speed 155mph (limited)

Economy: 40.4mpg combined

CO2 emissions: 162g/km