Once upon a time, when brilliant engineer and ruthless manager Ferdinand Piëch ruled Volkswagen Group with an iron fist, some of the most ambitious car projects in history saw the light of day, including the quirky Audi A2 small hatchback.
Featuring minivan styling, a blob-like design that was extremely aerodynamic, a cabin that punched above its supermini category in terms of roominess, an all-aluminum space frame for ultra-lightweight, and no opening hood, the Audi A2 was a small car unlike any other that came before it—and probably unlike any other car that’ll ever follow, including its spiritual successor that has just been teased.
New Audi A2 e-tron Will Be Larger, More Efficient Than the Original
We include Audi’s upcoming A2 e-tron in this category because, yes, Ingolstadt has just confirmed at its Annual Media Conference the return of the A2 nameplate on a new model, albeit one that will likely be quite different from the original.
For starters, the new Audi A2 e-tron debuting this fall will be a compact all-electric vehicle, which means it will not only grow in size but also feature a completely different powertrain and packaging. The new Audi A2 e-tron’s role is to further rejuvenate the brand’s lineup and “open up access to premium electric mobility,” Audi said. The latter part hints at the fact that it will be Audi’s most affordable EV model yet.
Besides the name, the A2 e-tron also appears to harken back to the original from a styling standpoint. The only design sketch released so far reveals a similar side profile to the original A2, featuring a minivan-like shape, upright front and rear ends, and a sloping roofline that ends with a roof spoiler above a tiny rear tailgate window.
The A2 e-tron also appears to feature slim LED matrix headlights and LED taillights. Increasing the image's brightness also partially uncovers the design of the wheels, which call to mind the original A2’s standard hubcaps. This being an EV, the alloy wheels likely have aero covers to reduce drag.
Interestingly, this is not Audi's first attempt to bring back the A2 as an EV. In 2011, the automaker unveiled the all-electric A2 Concept, but a production version never materialized because of high production costs that would have made it too expensive for buyers.
Audi's Entry-Level EV Will Target European Buyers
“We’ve listened. Our customers want electric mobility that impresses in everyday life. The A2 e-tron is our promise to deliver exactly that – efficient, compact, and confident. We’re making entry into the electric Audi world easier and more relevant than ever,” said Audi CEO Gernot Döllner.
With the new A2 e-tron, Audi says it is targeting a broad international customer base “that values everyday usability in the city, sustainability, high efficiency, and digital connectivity.” The automaker mentions increasing demand for compact electric vehicles, especially in large European cities, which likely means that Europe will be the target market. There's no word yet on U.S. availability, but we wouldn't hold our breath for it as the original A2 wasn't offered stateside either.
The new Audi A2 e-tron is also expected to echo the original model’s efficiency thanks to its all-electric powertrain, which it will probably share with the facelifted Volkswagen ID.3 Neo. As a reminder, the Audi A2 1.2 TDI '3L' model became the world’s first four-door vehicle with an average fuel economy of only 3 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (78.4 MPG U.S.) when it launched in March 2001.
Like its predecessor, the A2 e-tron will be built at Audi’s German home in Ingolstadt, a sign of the company's commitment to transforming its plants in Germany and Europe. “The A2 e-tron is crucial for our brand and also for our German home. With the production of an additional fully electric model family in Ingolstadt, we are securing jobs and delivering electric mobility ‘made in Germany’,” said Gernot Döllner. The plant also makes the Q6 e-tron and A6 e-tron midsize luxury EVs.
In addition to the upcoming A2 e-tron, Audi has also confirmed plans to unveil the next-generation Q7 and the full-size Q9 SUV. The facelifted Q4 e-tron will also debut this year.
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