Sportiness and efficiency Drivetrain technology in the Audi A1 project quattro

The drive unit for the Audi A1 project quattro showcases a fully independent and innovative hybrid technology. At work under the bonnet is a 1.4.litre TFSI engine developing 110 kW (150 bhp), whose power is directed to the front wheels by means of the S-tronic Direct Shift Gearbox. A 30 kW (41 bhp) electric motor positioned on the rear axle is able to deliver up to an additional 200 Nm of torque when the vehicle is accelerating. In boost mode, in other words when the vehicle is being powered simultaneously by the TFSI unit and electric motor for dynamic performance, the study is transformed from a front-wheel-drive car to a quattro, and power is transferred to the road in the most effective way possible.

The Audi engineers have long since proven the performance potential of turbocharged FSI technology, both on race tracks around the world and out on the road. The new 1.4 TFSI builds on this very same concept in order to maximise efficiency on the one hand and performance on the other. Multi-hole injectors result in very homogeneous mixture formation and extremely efficient combustion. This is also an effective means of helping to cut pollutant emissions.

The 1.4 TFSI delivers 110 kW (150 bhp) at 5,500 rpm in the study, with the integrated turbocharger ensuring optimised responsiveness and even more harmonious torque build-up. 80 percent of peak torque can be summoned up from as low down as 1,250 rpm, in other words barely above idling speed. Its peak torque of 240 Nm, meanwhile, is on tap over a broad rev band from 1,600 to 4,000 rpm. And despite its power, the 1.4 TFSI sets new benchmark standards in its class for its acoustic output too.

Pure electrical operation over shorter distances, however, is a particularly attractive alternative offered by this vehicle that benefits the environment and the owner’s wallet alike – all the more so considering that the performance achieved in this mode and even the range of over 100 kilometres are perfectly satisfactory. As a result, “refuelling” the Audi A1 project quattro from the mains alone produces an unequivocal result: even making allowance for the relatively high domestic electricity costs in Germany, it is still possible to achieve a saving of around € 6.50 for every 100 km – or 70 percent – compared to the price of premium fuel.

The dynamic chassis is tuned for sporty, agile handling combined with excellent stability, and makes cornering a particular delight. What’s more, the chassis excels with a level of ride comfort befitting of higher vehicle classes.

Large 18-inch wheels with size 225/35 R18 tyres boost both driving pleasure and safety. The braking system with its large-diameter discs (measuring 312 mm across at the front wheels) is more than a match for the drive power. Bred on the racetrack, the system promises outstanding, fade-free stopping power.

The electromechanical steering with speed-sensitive power assistance is also a boon for agile handling. The system boasts optimum steering feel combined with low sensitivity to road surface excitation and a considerable reduction in energy consumption.

The Audi A1 project quattro is equipped with the Audi drive select system. This enables the driver to pre-select one of two specially adapted configurations for the drivetrain, shift characteristics and magnetic ride shock absorbers.

Efficiency mode
The default setting is the “efficiency” mode, which is automatically activated every time the engine is started. In this mode, the engine and transmission respond gently to use of the accelerator and shift paddles. This setting is ideal for a relaxed driving style, as well as offering tremendous potential for effectively lowering fuel consumption, and therefore emissions too. In the “efficiency” mode, the electric motor is not deployed as a source of additional torque; instead it is run selectively as the sole power source to bring about a tangible reduction in consumption. For this purpose, the system makes use of a host of parameters which can be fed to it via the navigation system. Thanks to the navigation system’s ability to detect differences in altitude along the route, regeneration phases as well as the increase in energy requirements on inclines can be computed before the journey has even started. This also makes for particularly efficient vehicle operation by deploying the electric motor to optimum effect.

Dynamic mode
The dynamic mode is designed to produce the dynamic yet comfortable driving sensation that is so typical of the brand and that Audi drivers have come to expect of their car. In this mode, the vehicle’s electronics also harness the torque available from the electric motor to achieve extra-sporty acceleration and excellent lateral dynamics.

The shock absorbers feature a highly innovative technology in the form of Audi magnetic ride, which has already made its mark in the Audi R8 high-performance sports car and in the TT. Instead of conventional damper oil, the system uses a magneto-rheological fluid, the viscosity of which can be altered by an electromagnetic field. This effect allows the damping characteristics to be adapted electronically at any time by energising the electromagnets.

Audi magnetic ride capitalises on this quality to make the appropriate damping forces available in any driving situation, thereby optimising both ride comfort and performance dynamics. A computer linked up to a system of sensors interprets the current driving situation with split-second speed. At the same time, drivers are able to choose between two different drive modes, depending on whether they wish to have a distinctly sporty drive – with the magneto-rheological fluid at a low viscosity – or a more comfort-orientated ride.