The Audi A2 is a premium supermini produced by the German car manufacturer from 1999 to 2005. With the last cars leaving the Neckarsulm plant in July 2005, Audi managed to produce an estimated 175000 units.
Design and construction
The A2 was considered quite revolutionary in terms of design; however, its non-traditional aesthetics has not been well-received by the public. This fact is made all the more glaring when compared to the 1 million units sold by rival Mercedes-Benz's A-Class.
In terms of construction, the Audi A2 featured a considerable aluminium alloy content. This makes it around 40% lighter than an average car of its size. The combined weight advantage and a more efficient combustion engine enabled the A2 to achieve a fuel consumption of only 2 litres per 100 km (128 mpg, imperial gallon). In 2005, the Audi A2 won the Nordic Countries EcoRun economical driving race with a 2.62 l/100 km fuel consumption. Even the fuel-powered versions were capable of a remarkable 5 l/100 km fuel efficiency.
Audi engineers employed a space-frame design for the A2: the outer panels of the body - akin to the Renault Espace- had no structural function. This allowed for a more stable, durable and lightweight shell, as well as increased interior space. The downside was that the chassis was more expensive to build, leading to the Audi A2's higher than average market price. Coupled with the inadequate marketing from Audi, this likely led to the A2's lacklustre sales.
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