When Audi launched the A1, it was up against one of the most competitive segments of the automotive market. The premium supermini corner was jam-packed with some great cars and BMW’s Mini loomed overhead as the benchmark for a fun little car with great dynamics and value for money. Luckily in the last four years Audi have eked out their own little chunk of the market with their fantastic A1 – a little car that very much feels like a big car, and carries with it an uninhibited Audi feel.

So far available as both a 3door and 5-door “Sportback” in 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre TFSI options or a 1.6-litre oil-burner, with a wealth of customisation and trim levels, Audi have made sure there’s something for everyone. Would you like an SE model? Sport? S-Line? What’s missing?

Audi have a history of making great performance cars, and they usually get dubbed with an “S” at the beginning – “S3”, “S4”, and so on. Up to now, there still hasn’t been an Audi S1 (not counting the amazing S1 Quattro from the Group-B rally days) but that is all set to change, as Audi have shown off their awesome-looking performance A1.

Packing in a 231 PS 2-litre TFSI engine, the new machine can hit a top speed of 155 MPH. This is a little slower than the limited-edition Audi A1 Quattro (there were only 19 shipped to the UK out of a total 333 units), but it still brings the Quattro All-wheel drive system to a production model, so we can’t be all that angry. It’s the first Quattro-equipped model in the small compact segment, and it can accelerate from 0-60 in just 5.8 seconds – not bad!

The car will make its official unveiling at the Geneva motor show in March, and start shipping shortly after. Prices will range from £24,000 OTR for the 3-door model, and from £25,630 OTR if you’d like a couple of extra doors. Scroll down to see more images and let us know what you think of the Audi S1. Do you want one? I really do. If you’re considering an Audi on finance, click the button below and we can help you find your next car! If you’re looking for something a little bigger, our best car deal of the month is currently on an Audi A6. Take a look!