Report Says Audi A2 Could Return as an EV
Audi’s AI:ME concept would make a perfect platform for a new A2, and could be a gateway to electric luxury.
The future of automobiles is electric — an Audi is quite clearly leaning into the shift. The e-tron GT is a stunning example of electric luxury, the RS Q e-tron is set to take on the Dakar Rally, and Ingolstadt even recruited Ken Block to help with EV development. But since all new Audi vehicles are set to be electric starting in 2026, there are still loads more green machines on the way, and Germany’s Auto Bild magazine is reporting that we just might see an all-new version of the A2.
At this point, there’s been no confirmation of such plans, though if you stop to consider it, the idea makes a lot of sense. Because while we all know luxury cars and SUVs are the industry’s cash cows, plenty of upscale buyers in urban markets — where electric vehicles currently make the most sense — are looking for something easy to pilot on tight city streets. So an electric hatchback with a small footprint could be ideal. That said, for said car to really resonate, it would have to look the business.
That’s where the AI:ME concept comes into play. When it debuted back in 2019, it was billed as a design study, and a platform for the automated driving technology of the future. Now, regardless of what folks like Elon Musk would like folks to believe, full-on autonomous driving is still a ways off. But there’s no reason that Audi couldn’t turn this concept into reality, and position it toward the bottom of the lineup. In that respect, it could serve as kind of a gateway drug for luxurious electric cars.
For the record, I don’t think range would be terribly important here. In that respect, I agree with Audi CEO Markus Duesmann, who believes that in the future, the range of electric cars will go down, as many people — particularly those in urban centers — come to grips with how little they actually drive. So presence, posh cabins, and great tech would be the most important features for a city car. And honestly, given the increasing attention people of all stripes are paying to climate change, I think we’re overdue for a backlash against massive SUVs. So stay tuned for news on a possible new Audi A2!
Photos:Audi