The highly exclusive 256PS 2012 Audi A1 Quattro Limited Edition will be launched on the UK market with the staring price £41 020. Form this limited edition will be released only limited quota of just nineteen left-hand-drive examples. It will officially be available to order in early March. More than 600 components have been reworked or replaced in the design of the new A1 Quattro. Most of ht attention has been put on the engine. The turbocharged and directly injected 2.0-litre four-cylinder delivers specially tuned 256PS (188 kW) output at 6,000rpm, and its punchy 350Nm (258 lb-ft) torque peak between 2,500 and 4,500rpm. This means that the acceleration of the A1 Quattro from 0 to 100 km/h takes only 5.7 seconds. The top speed is 152mph (255 km/h), while also returning up to 32.8mpg according to the combined cycle test.  In details, this extreme power is channelled through a quick-shifting six-speed manual transmission to the Quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. In addition the heart of this system is an electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated multi-plate clutch whose package of plates rotates in an oil bath. The clutch is mounted on the rear axle, thus making the vehicle weighing less. The precision of the handling is also improved by an XDS selective differential lock and a specially configured Electronic Stability Program (ESP) which offers a sport mode with a higher threshold for intervention and can be switched off entirely for track use. Moreover, the chassis of the Audi A1 has responsive and efficient electrohydraulic power steering with a direct 14.8:1 steering ratio. The ventilated disc brakes with high performance 312mm front discs complement this balance configuration.

2012 Audi A1 Quattro Limited Edition

Furthermore, the A1 has unique looks. It carries a Glacier White metallic paint, and in addition sits on Glacier White 18-inch turbine design alloy wheels. The high-gloss black roof complete with prominent spoiler and deep-set bumpers with 100-millimetre tailpipes at the rear. The Quattro badges on the grille, roof arch and rear hatch further enhance the sporty look. In contrast, the interior of the vehicle is predominantly black. Multi-adjustable Silk Nappa leather is used for the sport seats with their pronounced bolsters, integrated head restraints, red stitching and Quattro insignias. In addition, the interior design also includes white needles, the red-faced rev counter and the flat-bottomed multi-function sports steering wheel with contrasting red stitching and an inset limited edition plaque.

As a Limited Edition, indeed a very special one, the Quattro is  going to be equipped with full complement of equipment, which if added to a standard series production A1 would boost its price by over £11,000. There has been included xenon plus headlights, the high-beam assistant, adaptive brake lights, an LED interior lighting package, light and rain sensors, the acoustic rear parking system, automatic air conditioning, a storage package, the convenience key and cruise control. Of course, A1 got all the latest innovative technologies concerning online services and infotainment technologies.

Audi A1 Quattro is inbound - only nineteen examples of the high performance, left-hand-drive-only A1 Quattro are destined for the UK. The price tag is £41 020.

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Source: Audi