Audi is looking to bring down the barriers to owning a luxury EV. The A2 e-tron will ‘rejuvenate” the luxury brand, Audi promised after previewing the entry-level EV ahead of its upcoming debut.
Here’s our first look at the Audi A2 e-tron
The A2 e-tron will make “entry into the Audi world easier and more relevant than ever,” CEO Gernot Döllner said at the company’s Annual Media Conference in March, confirming the infamous egg-shaped hatch will make a comeback later this year.
After an over 25-year hiatus, the A2 will return as an all-electric, entry-level model. Ahead of its official debut this fall, Audi previewed a camouflaged prototype for the first time as it wraps up testing.
Audi is putting the A2 e-tron through the paces at a “secret test site” in northern Sweden to ensure it still delivers “the unmistakable experience of driving an Audi” while focusing on thermal management and battery performance in extremely cold conditions.
While prototypes are being tested on snow-covered roads and frozen lakes in Lapland, Audi is also using its wind tunnel at its technical development center in Ingolstadt.
The tunnel consists of a 235 km/h rolling road that produces wind speeds of up to 300 km/h to help measure and optimize aerodynamics and airflow.
Although the original A2’s egg-shaped design looked a bit quirky, it was ultra-efficient, making it one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles of its time. You can expect the upcoming EV (e-tron) version to be even more efficient with an all-electric powertrain.
To top it off, Audi is testing the entry-level model on the tight, windy streets of Bavaria to fine-tune the suspension and assistance systems in real-life driving conditions.
Audi has kept most details a secret, but according to Autocar, the A2 e-tron will share the updated MEB platform with the new Volkswagen ID.3, offering similar battery pack options.
The new VW ID.3 Neo is available with three battery pack options: 50 kWh, 58 kW, and 79 kW, providing WLTP driving ranges of up to 417 km (259 miles), 494 km (307 miles), and 630 km (391 miles).
We will learn prices later this year, but given that the A2 e-tron will sit below the Q4 e-tron in Audi’s lineup, the entry-level EV will likely start at around $40,000 (£30,000). The Q4 e-tron currently starts at £47,355 ($63,600) in the UK and €47,500 ($55,200) in Germany.
“We’ve listened. Our customers want electric mobility that impresses in everyday life,” Döllner said, adding that ‘The A2 e-tron is our promise to deliver exactly that – efficient, compact, and confident.”
The A2 e-tron will be built in Ingolstadt and will “rejuvenate” the brand, Audi said, while opening access to luxury electric mobility.
With over 20 new models launched in the past two years, Audi said it now has the youngest portfolio among the competition. With the addition of the A2 e-tron, Audi’s lineup will span from fully electric entry-level models to the premium full-size Q9 SUV.
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