Currently reading: Audi readies new £15k city car for A2 successor

Sub-A1 successor to A2 to be sold from 2019 in three- and five-door, and petrol and electric guises

Audi is preparing to launch a city car — a new youth orientated model that will become its cheapest offering in key global markets, including the UK. 

The compact four-seater is tentatively scheduled for a launch in 2019. It has been conceived to offer a choice of petrol power or electric propulsion, according to Audi sources, who suggest the proposed new entry-level model will be previewed in concept form as early as next year’s Paris motor show.

The city car will be shorter than 4.0 metres in length and will sit below the A1 in an expanded Audi line-up. Its perceived rivals span a diverse range of existing city cars, including the Fiat 500, Smart Forfour and Vauxhall Adam.

At the same time, it will seek to challenge a raft of contemporary electric cars, such as the BMW i3, Renault Zoe and Nissan Leaf.

The new Audi model is currently undergoing early development at the German car maker’s Ingolstadt engineering headquarters in Germany. It is based around a modified version of parent company Volkswagen’s frontwheel-drive NSF (New Small Family) platform, as used by the Volkswagen Up, Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo.

By basing the new model on the NSF platform, which has already been engineered to accept batteries as part of the development of the VW e-Up, Audi appears to have found a solution to long-held plans to enter the burgeoning city car market with its own uniquely styled model.

Audi initially showcased plans for a new city car model with the unveiling of an A2 concept in 2011. Billed as a successor to the original entry-level hatchback produced between 1999 and 2004, it also previewed plans for an electric powertrain. However, the project was abandoned in 2013, with Audi suggesting the high cost of lithium ion battery technology made it too expensive.

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Audi also revealed two new electric-propelled microcar concepts at the 2013 Frankfurt motor show.

The upcoming city car is envisaged to be priced at about £15,500 in petrol form in the UK — more than £1500 less than the pricing-leading A1. The new entry-level Audi to be unveiled at next year’s Paris motor show is said to be more than 400mm shorter than the A1, at around 3550mm.

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Audi is thought to be planning two bodystyles: a basic three-door and a more versatile five-door hatchback, mirroring the strategy taken by VW with the Up. Also under discussion is a more ruggedlooking Allroad variant, featuring a raised ride height and additional cladding.

The petrol version is earmarked to run a new turbocharged 1.0-litre threecylinder engine, with the zeroemissions version set to get an electric motor and lithium ion battery pack similar to that used by the e-Up.

A diesel version has already been ruled out because of the high costs of exhaust gas recirculation and particulate trap hardware. Cost concerns also rule out a parallel hybrid variant, say Audi officials.

The new city car will use a conventional front-mounted engine and front-wheel drive layout. A quattro variant is unlikely, given that the current NSF platform and its successor have not been engineered to support fourwheel drive, according to sources at Audi parent VW.

In electric form, the price of the new Audi is likely to rise to more than £25,000, although UK buyers can bank on an EV subsidy, which currently cuts the price of zero-emissions cars by £5000.

If at first you don't succeed...

We've been here before with a futuristic Audi city car. There was, of course, the A2 of 1999, which was way ahead of its time, with its lightweight construction, impressive fuel economy and slippery aerodynamics. But the buying public didn’t go for it. The A2 was considered too expensive to buy (let alone repair) and its looks were polarising. The Mercedes-Benz A-Class outsold it by more than five to one.

 

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After production ended in 2005, Audi had another go in 2011 with a new A2 concept (above) that was intended to go into production as an all-electric rival to the BMW i3. But it was axed in 2013.

Will it be third time lucky? By basing the new city car on the NSF Volkswagen Group platform and with the associated economies of scale, Audi should be able to finally offer the ‘A2’ at a more affordable cost and allow its high-tech traditions to continue by spinning off an electric version. 

Mark Tisshaw

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mpls 9 January 2016

Trying to think who their

Trying to think who their target narket is.

1. Wannabes who want to jump on the Audi bandwagon
2. People with more money than sense, thinking Audis are cool and want a small car to complete that full range, SUV, Saloon and now a small city car..

With either, audi are cheapening the brand, a brand that is already cheap (crass and no class)

YouveGottaBeJoking 21 January 2016

mpls wrote: Trying to think

mpls wrote:

Trying to think who their target narket is.

1. Wannabes who want to jump on the Audi bandwagon
2. People with more money than sense, thinking Audis are cool and want a small car to complete that full range, SUV, Saloon and now a small city car..

With either, audi are cheapening the brand, a brand that is already cheap (crass and no class)

Just about every SUV/Crossover from every manufacturer is covered by your comments. Why would you want to buy a Ford Kuga over a Focus? Image. Why would you choose an X5 over a 5-series? Image and ego. It's not just Audi. And the suckers are......the people who pay a premium for the same space and higher running costs. Because they think it makes them look good.

5wheels 8 January 2016

Pricing policy

Audi has managed somehow by using the name the background and the design in most cases to make excellent profits. It was never badge engineered like Chevvy do with their Eastern products but it did of course have all the gubbins in the parts bin. So now they have decided to cut to the quick or the chase or whatever and finally offer an entry price which will attract? A2 was a great car - and as said way ahead of its time. This new one has the opposite job - that of catching up - so price sensitive it will have to be
Nathsky 8 January 2016

Audi A2 GT?

So the Up GT has essentially become the basis for Audi's city car project.