Performance Review: Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line - [2020]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Audi A1 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line is the 7 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 2020. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2021 McMurtry Speirling Goodwood and the 2021 Rimac Nevera 1888bhp Electric AWD.This particular Audi A1 has a 1498cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The A1 shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the A1's Front Wheel Drive, Hatchback combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1240 kgs (2733 lbs) this makes the Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line in the same weight category as the 2020 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works GP or the give or take 50kg.

The Audi A1 shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp)

In terms of power the 1498cc 16V St4 engine produces 148 bhp (110 kW) @ 5000 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp) or the 2018 Abarth 695 XSR Yamaha Automated (162 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 184 lb-ft (249.4 Nm) @ 1500 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (162 lb-ft) or the 2020 McLaren Sabre 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (206 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Audi A1 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 1988 Nissan 200SX S13 1.8T (144.3 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Audi A1.

The Audi A1 has a Power to weight ratio of 119.3 bhp per ton and 148.3 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2020 A1 competing with the 1988 Nissan 200SX S13 1.8T (144.3 bhp per ton) or the 1994 Rover 600 620 Ti (144.3 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Audi A1 generating around 148.3 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2009 Audi A5 S5 3.0 Quattro Cabriolet (173.3 lb-ft per ton) or the 2003 Skoda Fabia 1.9 vRS 130bhp (173.3 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 7.50 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 7.7 secs, this made the Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line as fast as the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.0 EcoBlue Wagon (7.50 secs) the 2017 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTD Variant 2.0 TDi DSG (7.50 secs) the 2017 Subaru Forester 2.0 XT Premium (7.50 secs) the or the 2015 KIA Ceed GT 1.6 Turbo (7.50 secs). This Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line is also faster than the 2013 BMW i3 0.6l Hybrid (7.60 secs) the 2011 Abarth 500C 1.4 Turbo (7.60 secs) the 2011 Fiat Punto Evo Abarth 1.4 Turbo (7.60 secs) the and the 2010 Peugeot 308 1.6 GTi (7.60 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the A1 and the 1966 DeTomaso Mangusta 4.9 V8

When talking about the performance of the Audi A1 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 16.52 secs @ 82.8 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1966 DeTomaso Mangusta 4.9 V8 (16.45 secs), the 1972 Jaguar E Type 5.3 V12 (16.46 secs), and the 2008 Mazda RX8 R3 231ps (16.46 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2020 version of the Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line has a maximum speed of 138mph.

Top Speed of the 2020 A1 equals the 2022 Porsche 911 Dakar 3.0 Turbo 992 II (149 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line then how about the 2022 Porsche 911 Dakar 3.0 Turbo 992 II (149 mph), the 2022 BMW i7 xDrive60 (149 mph), or the 2021 Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo (149 mph).

Related Links:

2020 A1 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Audi

Car Comparison