Audi is set to relaunch the A2 in 2014 and plans to debut an electrically-powered concept version at this September’s Frankfurt motor show.
The new model would compete against BMW’s forthcoming i3, and could see the A2 badge emerge as its own sub-brand.
The original A2, which never came to South Africa, was a compact MPV introduced in 1999 and discontinued in 2005 after disappointing sales, partly due to the high cost of its aluminium spaceframe chassis.
The new-generation car will again be built of aluminium but Audi plans to justify its cost premium with impressive technical innovation.
Apart from its aluminium construction the original A2 featured several clever design features, including a “sandwich” design (much like the Mercedes A-Class) where the floorpan had an upper and a lower portion with the space in the middle housing components such as the fuel tank and the engine’s electronics.
The rear footwells reached into this sandwich space, creating a comfortable seating position even for tall rear-seat passengers - Star Motoring