Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro (2011): a 496bhp mini!

By Mark Hamilton

First Official Pictures

31 May 2011 16:00

This is the Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro concept, a 496bhp racing concept built for the 2011 Worthersee Tour.

The Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro: A gift to VW Group fanatics

Each year European VW fans gather on the shores of Lake Worthersee in Austria to celebrate their favourite brand, with an emphasis on the Golf GTI. VW Group has usually provided a suitably insane tuned Golf concept for the occasion, and on the GTI's 35th anniversary that would have been the expected option. But Audi has crashed the party with its premium 'mini instead.

What supplies those 496bhp under the Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro's bonnet?

Audi have taken the 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine from the TT RS and RS3, and pushed power from 335bhp to the headline figure. Torque takes a similar leap, from 332lb ft to a hearty 487lb ft. That's almost as much power and significantly more torque than the Audi R8 V10 manages, thanks to substantially upgraded turbocharger, intercooler, intake and exhaust systems. The custom exhaust has also been re-routed to exit ahead of the left rear wheel arch, inspired by the Audi A4 DTM racer. The TT RS donates its six-speed manual transmission and four wheel drive to keep the A1 travelling in a straight line, and hopefully around corners.

Audi claims a 3.7 second 0-62mph, and top speed of 155mph for the fun-size Quattro.