It really all comes down to simple arithmetic. Audi wants to add another subcompact model to its range. It already has the A1 supermini and the A3 compact hatch, so if you subtract 1 from 3, you get 2. Add an 'A' up front and voila; you have the return of the A2 nameplate.
"There's clearly room for another product and another concept between the A3 and A1," Audi CEO Rupert Stadler told journalists on the sidelines of the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.
In a separate interview, Michael Dick, Audi's board member for technology, added that the firm's decision to add electric variants to the range will play a vital role with the next-generation A2 "in the near future."
According to reports, the new A2 will have unique styling and an electric powertrain. At the Geneva Salon, Audi showed the A1 e-tron Concept Study that used a 102HP electric motor to drive the front wheels with a 254cc single-rotor Wankel engine kicking in to charge the lithium-ion batteries when depleted.
And even though some might say that Audi's decision to use the A2 name doesn't necessarily mean that the new model will follow in the lines of its commercially unsuccessful predecessor (only 176,377 units were sold between 1999 and 2005), considering the fact that a five-door version of the A1 has already been approved, an MPV-style five-door hatchback sounds like the most logical solution.
An aluminum construction is a different story altogether and we'll have to wait and see if Audi plans to re-introduce the ASF (Audi Space Frame) concept to a smaller model like the A2.
Via: Autonews (Sub. Req.)
Audi A2 Gallery (1995 - 2005)
13 Comments:
it looks very nice, and beautiful small car.. good job audi.
If they don't make it look like the last gen's A2, then ok, if it looks like the same, then HELL NO, last one was ugly as hell ......
Just my opinion though
The A2 was was just ahead of it's time.
A practical supermini with crazy low fuel consumption, light weight, and low emissions.
Kinda what every manufacturer is attempting to build now.
Granted, the styling could have been improved but I don't think it was any uglier than Merc's more successful A-Class.
#3, "crazy low fuel consumption, light weight, and low emissions", this is an Audi, a premium brand, it is suppose to have quality, the A2 was the opposite, rust problems is one of the eg., BTW they already have the A1 (hybrid or electric, wathever..) and A3, what's this for?
But ok, i just hope they'll get a better design...
ok, price???
its looks smaller then the A1?? And its an A2? Im confused...
And where he says "There's clearly room for another product and another concept between the A3 and A1" - Is there really?? Think hes pushing it a bit... It will be like Nissan, and their range of almost identical 4wds... Just make ONE good one...
Thing with the old A2 is although its high pricing made its unpopular new, its aged extremely well and is very sought after on the used market, with A2s changing hands for very strong money. If they simply re-released the old model with the same 1.4 TDI it would sell well I'm sure, it was just too clever for its own good when they first launched it.
Good news. I've driven many cars in my life: Volvo's, Audi A6 and A2, Merc, BMW, most Citroën's, ...
Considering all criteria (usability, ecomomy, space, performance, durability,...) the best car ever had is the Audi A2!
Bring it back and I'll take it.
"it looks very nice, and beautiful small car.. good job audi." - Huh?
I think everyone is being generous, people buy MPV's for practicality over anything else... Audi tried something stupid, and they failed dismally... like any less than 200 000 units is a dismal failure and a lack of understanding of the market in which it wanted to compete in, Renault, Peugeot, Citroen, Honda, VW, Mazda and Ford reign supreme in this segment and I dare to say this is one heck of a segment you have to aim for class leading position to stay afloat..that's why all these manufacturers try to oudo each other all the time...this is no segment for a niche or "premium" products...else people can but SUVs ...but goodluck to them...
Why does the rear end remind me of the Aztec?
The strong double-A pillar looks like it is quickly becoming the norm in this size class as preceeded with cars like the Suzuki SX4, Honda Fit, and Mitsubishi Colt. But I must say that this is a very handsom design.
ugly.
Why do I get the feeling here that no one realises that the picture in this article was of the previous A2? This is not the new design. That is yet to come.
As to where it fits, and how it will look? No idea. I can say, hoever, that Audi was a very different company when they did the first A2. I suspect that what ever they do this time will be well-targetted and far more successful.
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