Astonishingly, though, it all feels a bit special, like a hipster café in an old motor workshop dressed up with modern finishes. Slot the alloy-topped gearlever (classy) into first gear, and the long and slightly rubbery shift action (old school) may surprise. A car this little might be expected to have a nuggety short throw, but it hints that a bigger bark lies within; the shift action is instantly recognisable as like that in a WRX STi, yet it’s more direct and pleasant.
For that first left-hander out of the carpark, a sneaky stab of the throttle results in a slight slew of controllable oversteer. The road conditions are slippery, which highlights that the S1 Sportback really is putting power to its rear wheels. There won’t be a chance for proper dry-road dynamics analysis here in minus-seven degree weather, though.
The S1 Sportback gets adjustable suspension as standard, with eco, auto and dynamic modes that also alter steering weighting, throttle and engine response, and exhaust noise.
Over undulating sections of road, the Audi has excellent body control in dynamic but is smoother overall in auto. Likewise, the dynamic mode offers reassuring steering weight on centre but is a bit dull and too-heavy when winding on lock, leaving auto again as the better balance for what is otherwise a really quick-to-respond tiller.
The noise coming out of the quad tailpipes doesn’t seem to alter too much between modes, but the engine itself provides a brilliant soundtrack. There’s a warble just off idle that sounds deeper than in the Golf GTI or S3. From 1200rpm the S1 starts to pull, by 2500rpm it’s hauling hard, and it maintains enthusiasm right to the 6800rpm cut-out. Snatching gears via that long-throw shifter, teamed with the deep noise, makes you feel as though you’re driving something more muscled than a colourful hatchback.
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