Audi brings A1 clubsport quattro to Wörthersee

As anyone lucky enough to have seen a rally-spec quattro in full-flight will attest; five cylinders, a turbocharger and four-wheel drive can make for a very thrilling combination in an Audi.

The factory themselves clearly agree, given the recent unveiling of this – the A1 Clubsport quattro. Created for Austria’s prolific Wörthersee VW-group owners’ meet, this car is the latest in a line of VW-Audi concepts developed especially for the event.

Whilst the past three years have seen a series of conservative ventures from standard production models, this year sees a return to the refreshing automotive lunacy debuted by 2007’s VW Golf W12 650 concept.

The Clubsport sits snug over unique, quattro-aping 19-inch ‘Turbine’ alloys, with adjustable coilover suspension providing a purposeful stance further enhanced by front wings, doors and rear side panels widened by no less than 60 millimetres.

The assertive visual theme continues with large bonnet air outlets, pronounced use of exposed carbon fibre and a prominent side-exit exhaust, the latter evoking thoughts of Audi’s successful A4 DTM racer.

Such motorsport vibes also permeate the interior – with the rear bench seat being lost in favour of a large cross-brace and two helmet holders. This theme is further maintained by carbon-fibre accents on the steering wheel spokes, aluminium pedals and a host of extra dials; for oil pressure, boost pressure and system voltage respectively.

More exciting, however, is the Clubsport’s mechanical specification. The concept uses modified TT-RS components to produce 503 hp and 487 lb-ft of torque from the 2.5-litre engine – enough, claim Audi, to catapult the Clubsport from 0 – 62 mph in just 3.7 seconds and onto 124 mph in a further 7.2. Top speed is a limited 155 mph.

The turbocharger, intercooler, induction tract and exhaust line have all been tailored to produce such heady figures, whilst drive comes through a six-speed manual gearbox and feeds an enhanced permanent four-wheel drive system. Perforated carbon-ceramic discs, gripped by six-piston calipers, take care of slowing the front axle whilst large, though more conventional, steel discs are used on the rear. 

Unfortunately, all this is largely academic as the A1 Clubsport quattro concept is just that – a concept. Although, with the success of BMW’s new 1M, who knows what could happen…