Well, get this; today, Audi presented a new flagship version of the A1 powered by a tweaked dual-charged 1.4 TFSI delivering 185HP and 250 Nm (184.39 lb-ft) - but, the Germans aren't calling it the S1. Instead, the most powerful variant of the A1 series to date is plainly named the 'A1 1.4 TFSI'.
The Ingolstadt-based automaker said that by the middle of next year, 20 examples of the A1 e-tron will take to the streets of Munich as part of a pilot project undertaken by Audi AG in partnership with E.ON, the Munich municipal utility company Stadtwerke München (SWM) and the Technical University of Munich (TUM).
All proceeds from the auction will benefit The Elton John AIDS Foundation, which is said to be one of the 10 largest AIDS grant making organizations in the world, managing over £14 million in programmes across 15 countries.
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The other four custom A1s are a "Hot Rod" version with a matt-finish look, steel wheels with white-wall tires and extremely low ride height thanks to the air suspension, one fitted with a "competition kit" that pays homage to Audi rally vehicles from the 1980s, the "Wasserwacht" model that's dedicated to the local water rescue service and a "Fashion" edition.
Other highlights at the show, which runs from from April 9-18, include the German premieres of the new A1 premium supermini, the A8 limo and the RS5 Coupé, the e-tron concept and the car that won the 2009 DTM (German Touring Car Masters).
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"There's clearly room for another product and another concept between the A3 and A1," Audi CEO Rupert Stadler told journalists on the sidelines of the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.
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Seen here for the first time in official photos, the S-Line kit comprises of two separate packages. The S-Line Exterior package sweetens up the A1's looks with chiseled sill tops, a larger roof spoiler, a more concave front bumper with side air-vents and a new rear bumper with a diffuser and matte optics.
This time, the 'e-tron' treatment was applied on Audi's spanking-new A1 premium supermini that uses a front-mounted electric motor producing 102HP and 240Nm to drive the wheels with a 254cc single-rotor Wankel engine that runs at 5,000 rpm, kicking in to charge the lithium-ion batteries when they are depleted.
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Marketed as a Mega City Vehicle (MCV), the new A1 e-tron is said to return an electricity-only range of 50 km / 31 miles by means of a 75 kW / 102 HP power train.
"The car is very well sprung. It swallows up bumps of almost any size without any amplification of the motions," said Winkelhock when describing his impressions. "After driving the Audi A1 for the first time, my opinion is clear: It's the benchmark in the small compact class," Winkelhock concluded.
We'll avoid to play the guessing game about the type of vehicle that Audi is planning to surprise us in Geneva, but feel free to entertain us with your thoughts in the comment section after the jump.
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