Audi S1 SportBack Quattro

Audi-S1_Sportback_2015To be honest, I don’t believe in S models when it comes to Audi. For me it is either you buy the chilling A version or the proper, sporty RS. But that S1 was an exception to the rule. As a big fan of hot hatches, it couldn’t go unnoticed. With its 231hp and 272lb-ft squeezed out of a 2.0 Turbocharged 4 cylinder engine, that car, the size of a Ford Fiesta, would burn the 0-100km/h in just 5.8 seconds. It might be a couple of horses short compared to the previously released, limited edition A1 Quattro (256hp and 258lb-ft of torque) but it has more torque making the acceleration more brutal. Unlike the special edition A1, it can be ordered in several brand new Audi colors like that gorgeous Yellow Vegas. It just looks stunning with those new front Xenon headlights and led taillights and have you seen that spoiler and those 4 tail pipes?! With Audi’s Quattro and a manual gear box, that S1 must be a joy to drive. It even has 5 doors so you can take your pals for a hot climb to the mountains or for some drifting on snow.

Audi-S1_Sportback_2015 backPrice wise, with the A1 costing around $40K I would suspect the S1 to have a selling price in Lebanon of around $60K. Is it worth it for a car the size of a matchbox with the engine of a GTI? Even tough they don’t really belong to the same category, I think I would rather pay a bit more and get myself a proper MK7 GolfR (full review available right here) which is more spacious and has 300 ponies awaiting to be whipped.

Volkswagen commercial: Are you GTI Enough?

GTI 35 special editionFor those of you who missed it, this is the commercial of the VW Golf GTI VI 35 anniversary edition. This special edition of the already amazing GTI has still the standard 2.0 liters V4 turbocharged engine but the German engineers were able to squeeze out of it 235hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. This is an augmentation of almost 10% compared to the stock GTI’s power. Not a crazy increase but it is nice to have. The 35 edition has several limited edition “35” badges here and there like on the door sill plates, the steering wheel and seats. This limited edition features a “half golf ball” as a gearlever that pays homage to the stickshift of the original 1976 GTI. This commercial that was released for the launching of the 35 edition GTI is just stunning. The driving sensations the car delivers are so well advertised and represented. This is one gorgeous car commercial just pure car/human interaction. I am still waiting patiently to see how the new special edition GTI VII will look like. Knowing that the stock GTI VII can be bought with a special racing package delivering 230hp, a special edition version will have at least 30 additional hp. Looking forward.