Racing Driver Daniel Abt’s Hyper-Custom Audi A1
When he’s off the track, former Formula E driver Daniel Abt rolls in this tuned Audi A1.
In the world of motorsport, German driver Daniel Abt is less famous for taking podiums than he is for having an esports star compete for him during the 2020 Race at Home Challenge. After confirming that he brought in a ringer to do his job, Audi promptly kicked him to the curb, and while he’s said he’s not retiring from racing, Abt — somewhat unsurprisingly — doesn’t have a seat this year. But his hot new A1 proves he doesn’t have any hard feelings toward the company.
This pocket rocket has been given the full treatment from his family’s tuning company, and given all the upgrades, it must be a total kick in the pants to drive. Because in addition to having a crazy wrap and enough body bits to make a SEMA car blush, it’s gotten a substantial increase in motivation department. The stock motor has been plucked from under the hood, and while the replacement is still a 2.0-liter turbo, the new mill is pumping out a whopping 400 horsepower.
For those keeping score at home, that’s more than twice what stock examples produce, and unlike most of the Audi product we get on this side of the Pond, all that poke is piped to the front wheels. While there are obviously better platforms to start with if you’re looking to build a super-quick street car, I dig that Abt chose to trick out an A1, even if I’m not sure I’d be stoked about rocking something with what’s almost certainly brutal torque steer.
As you can tell from the pics, the greasy bits aren’t the only part of this machine that’s been have been tricked out. Up front, the front fascia has been reworked to add a fat splitter, and there’s an aggressive new hood. To give the car a meaner stance, there are also boxy fender flares at all four corners, which frame forged 19-inch ABT ER-F wheels. Out back, there’s a massive wing and rear diffusor, and enhanced side skirts tie the whole package together.
Inside, there appears to be enough Alcantara to outfit four or five cars, which — especially given the bombastic nature of the asymmetrical exterior wrap — makes it look a little one note. In the video below, Abt makes it clear that this is a one-off deal, but for A1 owners looking to add more grunt, the company has go-fast bits available that’ll bump output to 240 horsepower.
Watch the video below to see — and hear — this wild A1 in action, and let me know what you think about Abt’s prospects. Is he out of racing for good? Or do you think he’ll be back to Formula E next season?
Photos: ABT Sportsline