Audi’s revolutionary model returns as an efficient electric car

Audi is bringing back its revolutionary A2 as an electric car, with the new A2 e-tron presented as the most energy-efficient model the Ingolstadt brand has produced.

The cabin includes an 11.9-inch digital instrument panel beside a 12.8-inch curved touchscreen. Audi moved the drive selector to the steering column, creating more room on the center console for a wireless charging pad. The pad can charge two smartphones simultaneously at up to 25 watts.

The A2 e-tron also introduces Audi’s Fidlock magnetic mounting system. Owners can attach items such as cupholders and charging-cable bags to designated points in the passenger compartment and luggage area. Audi says the A2 e-tron is the first production car to use the system, although Dacia offers a similar solution called YouClip.

The car has the same 2,770-millimeter wheelbase as the Q4 e-tron, which should provide good rear legroom. Its 396-liter luggage compartment, however, is smaller than the Q4 e-tron’s 520 liters and the Renault Mégane E-Tech’s 440 liters. It exceeds the Volkswagen ID.3 Neo’s 385 liters and the Volvo EX30’s 318 liters.

The first A2 stood out for its innovative aluminum body, but that feature also made it expensive. Only 176,000 units sold during its six-year production run. Audi developed the new A2 e-tron in just 21 months and built it mainly from steel, with limited aluminum. That helped bring the starting price of the small-battery version in Germany to 38,200 euros, equivalent to 13.83 million forints at the current exchange rate.