It didn't take long for the Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro to be transitioned into an actual production vehicle, did it?

Give some thanks to Audi->ke14 because they're about to release the Audi A1 Quattro, a special edition model that takes the A1->ke1729's already impressive looks and turns them into a design masterpiece.

Not only does the A1 Quattro look stunning - special props to the red handlebar 'wing' lights - but it's also got some serious ponies under its hood. It's not in the level of what the 500-horsepower A1 Clubsport was capable of, but it certainly packs a meaner punch than a lot of factory-built A1 models out on the market these days.

Creative and evocative design matched to an impressive 2.0-liter TFSI powertrain and the use of Audi's very own quattro all-wheel drive has turned the Audi A1 Quattro into a serious must-have. The only downside is that Audi will be limiting the release of the car to just 333 units with prices still to be announced. But we like it so much that even if we don't know how much it's going to cost, we'll be saving up for a chance to get a piece of this super duper hot hatch.

UPDATE 02/20/12: Audi has released a pretty interesting video of the A1 Quattro doing some sick drift moves...in the snow! The video is a little over eight minutes, which means that you're going to get your money's worth for watching it. Check out the vid after the jump!

UPDATE 01/29/13: A new video of the Audi A1 Quattro has been released by Audi featuring DTM pilot Filipe Albuquerque showing us what the car is capable of. Check out the video by clicking on the photo above.

Find out more about the Audi A1 Quattro after the jump

2012 Audi A1 Quattro

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2012 Audi A1 Quattro
  • Engine/Motor: TFSI engine
  • Horsepower: 256 horsepower at 2,500-4,500 rpm
  • Torque: 258 lb/ft of torque at 6,000 rpm
  • Transmission: six-speed transmission
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Audi A1 Quattro Performing Snow Drifts

Exterior

Not a lot of things were changed on the A1 Quattro from the A1 Clubsport Quattro that we saw earlier this year. The paint finish - Glacier White - remains the same as does the roof that's been painted in a high-gloss black finish. The overall profile of the A1 Quattro was also kept similar, featuring a muscular front bumper, the same red curved bars in the headlights, - Audi calls them 'wings' - a frame and grate that have also been finished in high-gloss black, and the same 10" Glacier White cast alloy wheels wrapped in 225/35-series tires.

Other pertinent features of the limited edition A1 Quatto include tinted rear windows, a large two-color wing, tinted LED rear lights, and an exhaust system that comes with two polished dual tailpipes, one on both ends of the car.

All in all, the A1 Quattro measures a little bit longer than that of the A1 Clubsport Quattro with dimensions reaching 3,987 millimeters long, 1,740 millimeters wide, and 1,416 millimeters tall.

Interior

As for the interior, Audi made sure to dress up the A1 Quattro with amenities befitting its special edition tag. The seats and the armrests of the car have been covered in Silk Nappa leather with contrasting red seams. The two S sport seats in the front are unique for having pronounced bolsters, integrated head restraints, and a quattro badge on the backrest covers.

Meanwhile, the lower section of the center console has been shimmied up in high-gloss black with the footrest and the pedal caps made from brushed stainless steel. The floor mats, which are also unique to the car, come with red seams while the door sill trims bear A1 quattro badges.

Even the car's instrument cluster was given its share of eye-catching features, including white needles, a red tachometer, the quattro logo, and the color display for the driver information system. The car's multifunction sport steering wheel has been wrapped in leather with contrasting red stitching and bears the car's serial number.

Performance

Despite sporting pretty much the same looks, the A1 Quattro falls completely short to the power of its Clubsport counterpart. Whereas the latter came with a 2.5-liter, five-cylinder TFSI engine that delivered 500 horsepower, the former is powered by a 2.0 TFSI engine that produces 256 horsepower at 2,500-4,500 rpm and 258 lb/ft of torque at 6,000 rpm. The 2.0 TFSI engine on the A1 Quattro channels its power to the Audi's quattro permanent all-wheel drive system through a shifting six-speed transmission, making it one of the few small-car models to carry Audi's legendary Vorsprung dutch Technik technology.

What's even more impressive is that despite its fuel efficient nature - it car return an average of 27.67 US mpg - the Audi A1 Quattro still boasts of some serious figures, including a 0-62 mph time of 5.7 seconds with a top speed of 152 mph.

Pricing

No word yet on how much the Audi A1 Quattro is going to be priced at. Since Audi is looking at building only 333 units, we can expect it to be a little more than what we're accustomed to.

Competition

It's rare that a brand like Audi can be matched against an Alfa Romeo->ke1386, but that's exactly where we're going when finding a smart alternative for the A1. The Giullieta doesn't have the same cache as that of its German counterpart, yet a lot of people still sleep on the Italian hot hatch.

Granted, the A1 Quattro is a special edition model that, in itself, deserves special attention. But consider that the Giulietta can match the A1 Quattro in numbers - the Alfa comes with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder turbocharged Quadrifoglio Verde engine that produces an impressive 235 horsepower - then you have a car that, if not for the special edition tag given to the A1 Quattro, can give the German hatch a serious run for its money.