Audi A2 e-tron: apprentices show Audi the chances they missed

To mark the 25th anniversary of the original A2, Audi is showcasing an A2 e-tron, an A2 that has been converted into an electric vehicle by a bunch of Audi apprentices.

Although this is a one-off created for the anniversary, Audi is planning a new entry-level electric model below the Q4 e-tron, likely to be called either the A2 e-tron or the Q2 e-tron.

One-off

Audi only gave a glimpse of the one-off apprentice project on LinkedIn: “Curtain up for the Audi A2 e-tron. Thanks to the commitment and team spirit, we are celebrating the completion of the conversion project.”

“With great dedication and expertise, our apprentices, dual students, and their supervisors have converted an Audi A2 into an Audi A2 e-tron and achieved an outstanding result. Congratulations to everyone involved – an absolute masterpiece.”

Audi provided no further technical details on its LinkedIn page but added, “The vehicle shown is a concept vehicle that is not available as a production model.” The pictures show that the apprentices have optimized the already excellent drag coefficient with unique wheels, small body changes and spoilers, and the omission of rearview mirrors, which cameras have replaced.

25th anniversary

Twenty-five years ago, in 1999, Audi launched the then-very innovative Audi A2. It was the production version of the AL2 Concept car, which was an answer to the small Mercedes A-Class launched in 1997. Belgian designer Luc Donckerwolke designed the Audi A2. It had an outstanding design for such a compact car, reminiscing that of the also visually outstanding Audi TT.

Also, technically, the A2 was a revolution. Its bodywork was mainly aluminum, and Audi used its Spaceframe concept from the big Audi A8 to save weight. Combined with very frugal three-cylinder diesel engines and four-cylinder petrol ones (the first 1.6 with injection), the light car (less than 900 kg) was a real pleasure to drive.

Of course, the revolutionary body structure made the car relatively expensive, and many people didn’t appreciate its looks. Six years later, Audi pulled the plug after only 176,205 units were produced. The car was replaced by the much more conventional A1 and assembled at… Audi Brussels.

Rumors have it that the specially-looking, lightweight body was initially meant to be driven electrically, but top management wasn’t interested in the idea and buried the electrification program. Otherwise, the A2 could have been Audi’s BMW i3 more than ten years before the latter was launched.

Audi made other half-hearted attempts to electrify the A2. In 2004, it showed a hydrogen fuel cell version of the A2 that died a silent death. In 2011, when BMW was readying its i3, Audi again hinted at an electric version of its defunct A2, the Audi A2 e-tron concept. It had an 85 kW electromotor and a 31 kWh battery pack, resulting in an overall weight of 1,150 kg.

The Audi A2 and its spiritual successor, the BMW i3, exemplify engineering excellence. Both cars showcase lightweight aluminum chassis, exceptional aerodynamics, and low rolling resistance, features that set them apart from today’s trend of ever-larger SUVs.

A new A2 is coming

Now, picture a modern electric A2 weighing just 1.2 tons, equipped with cutting-edge energy management and powertrain technology. It would easily rank as one of the most energy-efficient vehicles on the market, combining practicality with a funky, retro design that could resonate with a broad audience.

According to information from the German magazine Automobilwoche,  there will be a smaller electric model under the Q4 e-tron. Audi’s new entry-level EV will be positioned in the compact segment and could have dimensions similar to the current Audi A3.

“Audi is working on a new body concept. Volkswagen’s MEB modular system, which already provides the architecture for the previous electric entry-level Q4 e-tron, is to be used as the platform,” the article states.

What is meant by the “new body concept” is still unclear. It could take ideas from the original A2. Like all MEB model series, the model will likely be slightly taller for technical reasons. Audi may want to use this with a new space concept to increase the utility value.

The new Audi numeric nomenclature uses odd numbers for the combustion models, while the electric model series uses even numbers. Since the “4” has been assigned to the mid-size class with the Q4 e-tron, the compact model will likely be launched as the Audi A2 e-tron or, with an SUV focus, as the Q2 e-tron.