Audi has confirmed that its upcoming entry-level electric model will carry the A2 name, marking the return of the badge more than two decades after the original hatchback went out of production.
The new electric hatchback is expected to debut later this year and will be part of Audi’s strategy to make its EV line-up accessible to a wider market. The model will effectively replace the A1 hatchback and Q2 SUV, which are set to be phased out of the brand’s line-up.
- Built on Volkswagen Group’s MEB EV platform
- Electric hatchback expected to debut later this year
- A2 nameplate returns after more than two decades
New entry-level electric Audi
Positioned below current EV models
Audi says the new A2 will serve as the brand’s entry-level electric model, aimed at broadening the appeal of its EV line-up. CEO Gernot Dollner said, "The A2 E-tron is our promise to deliver exactly that: efficient, compact and confident. We’re making entry into the electric Audi world easier and more relevant than ever."
Audi A2: Platform and positioning
Based on Volkswagen Group’s MEB architecture
The new A2 will be built on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric platform, the same architecture used by models such as the Volkswagen ID.3. In terms of size and specification, the new Audi EV is expected to be close to the ID.3 hatchback, although its design is likely to incorporate crossover-inspired styling cues.
The model will be produced at Audi’s Ingolstadt plant in Germany.
Design inspired by the original A2
Efficiency focused body shape
Spy images and preview visuals indicate that the new A2 will feature a compact, tall-bodied design with crossover elements, echoing the proportions of the original A2 sold between 1999 and 2005.
Audi says the revival of the A2 name is a deliberate reference to the original model, which was known for its focus on efficiency through lightweight construction and aerodynamic design. The new electric model is expected to follow a similar philosophy, with a shape designed to optimise aerodynamic efficiency and maximise interior space within a compact footprint.