The Audi A2 is back and its biggest trick is efficiency
The A2 returns after more than two decades as a rear-drive EV with up to 646 km of WLTP range, four outputs and prices from €38,200 in Germany.
Audi has pulled off a comeback few expected after more than two decades: the A2 name is back. This time there is no petrol or diesel at all — the newcomer is fully electric. Revealed on September 7, the A2 e-tron immediately claimed a striking title as the most efficient production Audi ever: the 140 kW version with the Efficiency package consumes from just 12.8 kWh/100 km on the WLTP cycle. And that is only the start. In Germany, prices begin at €38,200, with the first customer cars due in December.
The choice is unexpectedly broad: the range includes four rear-wheel-drive versions rated at 125, 140, 170 and 240 kW. Battery capacities are 52, 61 and 84 kWh. But the real surprise is hidden in the range figures. The longest-legged A2 e-tron is not the most powerful one: the 170 kW version with the 84 kWh battery can travel up to 646 km WLTP. The flagship 240 kW model stops at 630 km, while the entry version is rated for up to 423 km. More power does not mean more distance here.
Audi is also taking two different routes with the batteries. The two smaller packs use LFP cells and a cell-to-pack layout, while the 84 kWh battery uses NMC chemistry. DC fast-charging power peaks at 183 kW, and charging from 10 to 80% takes between 24 and 29 minutes depending on the version. Bidirectional power is included too: V2L lets the A2 e-tron supply external devices, while V2H can effectively turn it into a home energy store. At launch, the latter function is announced for Germany, Austria and Switzerland with a compatible DC wallbox.
Production is based in Ingolstadt, and Audi chose not to start from scratch. The company says it brought the A2 e-tron from initial concept to series production 21 months faster than comparable previous projects, making extensive use of existing factory equipment. Orders in Germany open on September 10. Prices for the four versions span from €38,200 to €51,200. It looks as if Audi revived the A2 name for more than nostalgia.