Audi has released an initial report today introducing quattro all-wheel drive to the Mini-rivaling A1. This is certainly great news considering that, up to this point, the A1's lack of quattro was perhaps its only downfall. Not only will the Audi A1 quattro be the first vehicle in its segment to power all four wheels, but also opens the door for the possibility of future, quattro-powered, "S" or "RS" variants.

Here is what those in Ingolstadt have released so far:

Ingolstadt, 2011-01-08 - The Audi A1 with quattro drive

As announced at the Paris Motor Show back in the fall of 2010, Audi is also bringing the permanent all-wheel drive system to the premium subcompact class. Consistent traction, a high level of driving safety and exciting dynamics – the A1 with quattro drive will be the first car in this segment to power all four wheels.

The youngest member of the large quattro family uses a technology very similar to that used in the A3 and TT model lines. At its core is an electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated multi-plate clutch located in front of the rear axle for an optimized distribution of weight. Inside is a package of plates that rotate in an oil bath.

During normal driving, the clutch sends most of the engine’s power to the front wheels. If the front axle loses grip, the clutch can instantly transfer torque to the rear axle by forcing the plate packages together. A pressure reservoir helps the electric pump to develop the necessary oil pressure.

Despite a conspicuous lack of badging, the vehicle pictured appears to be the A1 1.4 TFSI (136 kW) as seen at the Paris Motor Show. Still though, we do not know if quattro will be available across the entire A1 range. We imagine Audi will cover the new A1 quattro in greater detail soon and we'll be sure to post any new information as soon as it becomes available.

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