2012 Audi A1 Quattro

There are some special small cars that enthusiasts would kill for, including the mid-engined Renault 5 Turbo, the rear-drive Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, and just about any Group B World Rally Championship homologation car, such as the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16. Here's a potential new classic: the Audi A1 Quattro, priced at the equivalent of more than $55,000 and powered by a 256-hp turbo four. Production is limited to just 333 units. It will be by far the most powerful car in its class, the 208-hp Mini John Cooper Works being a distant second.

One Serious A1

In late 2010, an eight-person team came together to transform the VW Polo–based, front-wheel-drive Audi A1 into an all-wheel-drive high-performance monster. Previously, the A1 lineup was topped by a front-wheel-drive, 185-hp, 1.4-liter version, with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic as the only available transmission. For the new top-dog A1, the engineers dug deep into the corporate parts bin and came up with the Audi TTS’s EA113 2.0-liter TFSI, MQ350 six-speed manual transmission, Quattro all-wheel-drive system, and rear suspension setup. This A1 offers no dual-clutch option, and it’s perfectly fine that way.

This car, after all, is serious business. We estimate the sprint from 0 to 60 mph will take 5.0 seconds; top speed is a drag-limited 152 mph, the result of aerodynamics tuned for downforce. When you fire it up, the A1 Quattro emits a sonorous hum, which turns aggressive as soon as you hit the throttle. The not-too-light clutch bites aggressively, but the transmission is exceptionally smooth and easy to operate. Punch the throttle and the four tires grab hard.

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