What's the news?

Audi's latest performance car, the new S1, has been revealed ahead of its official public debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month. The car isn't far off a series-production version of the A1 quattro from 2012, of which just 333 were produced. In order to leave some exclusivity with that limited-run car the new S1 will have less power - its 2.0-litre TFSI engine produces 231hp and 370Nm of torque.

Exterior

The new S1 will be offered in both three-door hatchback and five-door Sportback guises. Both will feature new Xenon headlights while the front-end also receives a more aggressively styled bumper, housing larger air intakes to help cool that powerful engine. More pronounced side sills along with a detailed rear diffuser help to give the S1 a healthy stance. Adding to that are 17-inch alloy wheels as standard, although Audi will also offer an 18-inch version that will come shod with 225/35 R18 tyres as an optional extra. Naturally, like all of Audi's 'S' models, the S1 will reiterate its performance credentials with a quad-exhaust setup at the rear.

Interior

Cosseting sports seats come as standard while the model-specific dark-grey instrument dials serve to further remind you that this is something special. Black air vent covers are part of the dark theme inside, which can be broken up by an optional interior styling package that adds body-coloured accent panels.

Mechanicals

The Audi S1 boasts some impressive performance numbers thanks to the combination of a 231hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and a permanent all-wheel drive quattro system. Thanks to an electronic differential lock and advanced ESC stability control system, the S1 sprints from 0-62mph in just 5.8 seconds. In the case of the five-door Sportback, that time will take an additional tenth of a second - not a big price to pay for some added practicality. There will be choice of either a six-speed manual transmission or an optional S-Tronic automatic gearbox.

Like many of Audi's performance cars top speed is electronically governed to 155mph, which, in a car the size of the S1, should still feel rather exciting. Helping to stop the S1 will be some beefy brakes - 310mm in diameter at the front - as well as a larger brake master cylinder to cope with 'more enthusiastic' driving.

Anything else?

When shown some restraint, Audi claims that the S1 will return 40.3mpg on the combined cycle, with emissions of 162g/km. The new S1 will be available in the UK from mid-March, priced from £24,900 on-the-road for the manual three-door hatch and £25,630 for the S1 Sportback.

It's expected that the Audi S1 will make its world debut at next month's Geneva Motor Show alongside the all-new Audi TT.