Audi explains why it will not be producing an RS1

The German automotive giant says designing a hot hatch modification of the A1 is not economically viable and would necessitate upgrading the car’s current four-cylinder engine.

Audi already has an inline-five turbocharged engine in its arsenal, which features 2.5 liters of displacement and remains the most affordable option in the Audi RS range so far.

The company did produce a limited run of 333 A1 Quattro AWD hatchbacks eight years ago, each of them packing 256 hp (191 kW) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque. Last year, ABT Sportsline fitted exactly one A1 Sportback with the 310-hp (231-kW) racing-spec engine taken straight out of an Audi TT racecar. You may look into our gallery and watch the video for more details on the latter.

The Audi A1 40 TFSI, which comes equipped with the 2.0-liter turbo-four engine of the Volkswagen Polo GTI, currently sits at the top of the A1 line. Its six-speed automatic transmission sends 200 hp (150 kW) and 320 Nm (238 lb-ft) to the front wheels, accelerating the compact hatchback to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.6 seconds.

In related news, the third generation of the Audi RS3 should emerge later this year packing a mild hybrid powertrain based on the abovementioned I5 engine. Its total power rating is expected to exceed 400 hp (300 kW).