Following many months of rumours, at the end of 2011 Audi unveiled a super-exclusive high-performance derivative of its compact A1. The much-anticipated hot hatch helped pave the way for the series-produced (and less powerful) S1, but would intentionally remain a very rare beast. Badged A1 quattro, only 333 were made available worldwide, guaranteeing cult status among Audi cognoscenti.

The aggressive WRC-inspired styling echoed Ingolstadt’s one-off A1 clubsport, but that car’s mid-mounted five-cylinder engine gave way to a front-mounted four. Developing 252 horsepower and a massive 258 lb ft of torque, the turbocharged 1,984 cc EA113 could propel the quattro to 100 km/h in just 5.7 seconds. Top speed was just shy of 250 km/h, although raw figures tell only half the story.

As the legendary quattro name suggested, drive was distributed to all four corners (via a lightweight carbon fibre propshaft). Under normal conditions, the front wheels did all the work but, if the nose came adrift, an electronic brain brought the back into play via a rear-mounted clutch. The resultant traction was phenomenal, making the Audi notably fast on damp surfaces. Chassis upgrades, meanwhile (including multi-link suspension from the TTS, as well as a wider track, and lower ride height), delivered top-drawer handling on the trickiest of roads. When coupled with the A1’s compact dimensions, the result was devastating performance. In an unexpected departure from Ingolstadt’s usual ethos, the quattro eschewed a fashionable paddle-shift in favour of a more engaging six-speed manual gearbox—a move lauded by pundits.

In total, some 600 new or revised parts were involved in creating the model, from the bespoke 18-inch wheels and uprated brakes, to the cutting-edge aero package. Befitting a machine that promised style, performance, and exclusivity in equal measure, the focal point of the sumptuous Silk Nappa leather-trimmed cabin was a provocative bright-red rev counter.

Ranking among the most covetable of hot hatches, the car offered represents a particularly exciting opportunity. Understood to have originally belonged to one of Monaco’s wealthiest families, this Glacier White quattro has been enjoyed very sparingly—averaging fewer than 1,000 km a year since new. At the time of cataloguing, the odometer read 12,827 kilometres. In 2021, the Audi changed hands for the first and only time when it was acquired by a collector via Ferrari agent, Charles Pozzi. Unsurprisingly, the A1 remains beautifully presented. The history file reveals it has been carefully maintained by Audi technicians, and has covered only a few hundred kilometres on its current Bridgestone tyres.