When one talks of hot hatches and pocket rocktets, we normally think of small, lightweight cars zipping along on 200 horsepower. And the Audi A1 hatchback is a pretty good example of the breed, with a 180 horsepower engine, FWD and a little over 1,000 kilos to burden the powerplant.But MTM, a well-known tuner of European cars, decided that such a petty output was not enough for its tastes, so it set out build what it calls its A1 Nardo Edition. Basically the MTM-tuned A1 has had its 1.4 TFSI engined ripped out and replaced with a turbocharged 2.5-liter 5-cylinder unit from Audi’s upmarket and high-performance TT RS. Producing 340 horsepower as built by the factory, you’d think that that would be enough for a 1,000 kilo car. Not nearly so. MTM increased boost to 1.3 bar to further bump the engine’s output to 500 hp, with a corresponding upgrade in torque to 442 lb-ft. Power then goes to a six-speed manual and a diff with a limited-slip unit using the larger TT axles.
Performance is now 4.5 seconds to 60 mph and top speed is a verified 201 mph. This was achieved at the Nardo high speed track in Italy, where it ran with big boys’ tuner cars such as an SLK Mclaren, Porsche Turbo and a supercharged BMW M3. Allowing for the heavier engine and assuming a 1300 kilogram weight, performance calculations place power to weight ratio at 385 horsepower per ton. That figure is comparable to what a Corvette Z06 or a Ferrari F430 achieves. Not bad for a supermini. At its top speed, the car can cover 90 meters per second, which would leave even that 430 gasping to catch up.
Getting to its top speed did not take any radical aero aids, with just carbon fiber fenders (to accommodate the wider track) and wheel covers to help reduce turbulence from the wheels. Just recently, Audi announced its very own 500 hp AWD A1. With these developments, the world of hot hatches is definitely heating up.
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