Audi releases a one-minute-and-a-half long video dedicated to the A2 Concept, which was premiered at the latest Frankfurt Motor Show. This futuristic footage shows us a 3D reconstruction of the design of the car, also emphasizing some of its most distinctive features such as its all-electric powertrain. The actual prototype of this model measures 3.80 meters in length, 1.69 meters in width and 1.49 meters in height, and is also an anticipation of the next generation of the A2, the little compact hatchback that the house of the four rings produced between 1999 and 2005.

The A2 Concept boasts such features as a photochromic roof with a command on the inside of the car, LED technology for the head lamps, an adaptable light control and an innovative lighting system for the interior, which the above video explains quite well. Besides, the lights running along the length of the car detect the owner’s approach and can open the doors with a “gesture control”.

The whole videoclip is made in CGI, but if you want to see the A2 Concept ‘in-the-metal’, check out the official photo gallery of the prototype showcased in Frankfurt by clicking on one of the thumbnails below.

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If there was one car company ready to rock with a number of models at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show that company was Audi. Here we have two large galleries of live pics from Frankfurt of the new Audi Urban Concept and the Audi A2 Concept - probably the two most important models debuting here.

In the meantime, if you like electric things but with more power, the first Audi R8 E-tron is also debuting, as are the restylings of the Audi S6, S7 and S8 which is also a lot of performance to take in. As you might see from these pics, both the Urban Concept and A2 Concept leave us a little perplexed, although at least in the former we can take it as a way-out study in urban mobility.

In the meantime the Audi A2 Concept design doesn’t improve on further acquaintance and we can see quite a few tweaks being made here before it makes production. Still the interior was nice and the lights are pretty cool, too, so we’ll follow this closely in the future to see just where Audi takes its design when closer to production.

Audi live at 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show: part one

Audi live at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show

Continue reading: Audi A2 Concept and Urban Concept live at 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show

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Audi has released these pics and details of its new A2 Concept prior to its 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show debut. The concept is a preview of some of the design and features we’ll see on the new, second generation Audi A2 Concept. The show car measures 3.8 metres long, 1.69 metres wide and 1.49 tall.

At this stage the A2 concept has features like a photochromic roof with a command on the inside of the car, diode LED headlamps and adaptable light control for variable visibility conditions. The lights running along the length of the car detect the owner’s approach and can open the doors with a “gesture control”.

The lighting is just as sophisticated on the interior as well and we wonder if the A2 Concept isn’t more a study in modern lighting techniques than a real preview of the future A2. The model will likely be an electric model of the future built with lightweight materials, but bear in mind that this is an early concept at this stage.

Continue reading: Audi A2 Concept pics

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Another concept from Audi at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show will be the Audi A2 Concept. It doesn’t exactly set our imagination on fire in terms of style, seen from these renderings, but then the future A2 should be a practical, innovative model and not exactly sexy.

We can’t say now whether the concept marks the beginnings of a production version, but the future A2 could be quite an important model for the company. The A2 on show at Frankfurt will be an electric concept with a brand new interior and slightly new dimensions. Audi describes its A2 Concept as a “technical study” in a “classic, premium-standard space concept”. It measures 3.8 metres long and has some classic concept features such as dark glass roof that turns transparent on pushing a button.

The new design study reveals brand new LED headlight technology called matrix beam, while the daytime running lights use low-beam technology. The rear lights use a new diode laser beam function for the fog light, and the rear lights adapt themselves to different driving conditions as needed.

Continue reading: Audi A2 Concept

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For us the Audi A2 was akin to the Mercedes A-Class - we just never liked it, stylistically speaking. But then Mercedes went and made the A concept, giving the new car a sexy, coupé look, and now Audi is apparently planning a new A2 concept for the Frankfurt show. The new Audi A2 will still be an MPV model, but will be built from the ground up to support a fully electric platform, marking an important project for the company.

The A2 was always an innovative model for Audi, but its aluminium space frame meant that it was too expensive and it was discontinued. Since then, Audi seems to have a found a new vision to produce another A2, making it a technologically-laden vehicle for a new generation of electric family cars.

A revamped A2 has been in the rumour books for a while, but the real news from AutoExpress is that the model is apparently so popular internally, that Audi could consider an entire A2 family, creating almost a standalone brand in the style that BMW has done for its ‘i’ electric models. All will be revealed at Frankfurt.

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The Audi A2 is probably the worst Audi model around, stylistically speaking, and could be considered one of the weaker links in the Audi rings. Not that my personal prejudice is the reason for the A2 overhaul in the future, but in any case, a new model is on the cards. According to AutoBild though, that renewal will now take place in 2015, and not 2013 as originally planned. And the smaller car will no longer be based on the Volkswagen Up! platform, but a new mix of Polo and Passat models.

It’s highly likely we’ll be seeing an A2 hybrid model in the future, in addition to a possible all-electric model, too. While previously we were expecting a smaller, citycar model about 370 cm long, these two options indicate that the new A2 will probably be bigger, to house the different drivetrains. Currently, the estimate is that we will see a model about 390 cm long.

The engine range doesn’t look to hold any surprises at this stage, with three and four cylinder models, both petrol and the compulsory diesel in Europe, along with the two ‘green’ options as above (Rupert Stadler previously announced these some time ago). It seems that the A2 could be the beacon for Audi’s environmental offering in the future, as described by research and development head, Michael Dick. With a later arrival, it seems that Audi will lose any advantage over the BMW Megacity, unless it produces something sexier than the current A2.

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After news that no Volkswagen Polo R will be developed in order to favour the new Audi S1 and a Volkswagen Jetta R model, we also learn that the S1 will have front wheel drive instead of all-wheel drive in a move likely to anger purist Audi fans. While the Audi S1 will be equipped with a 1.4 TFSI engine and 180 hp, the front-wheel drive option should keep prices down; although we reported yesterday that we could be looking at starting prices of about 29,000 euros for the S1.

In the meantime, the new Audi A2 is planned to be an ‘electric only’ model when it’s launched in 2012. The company is preparing itself to compete against the new BMW Megacity model which will be available only the following year in 2013. The Audi A1 and A2 will share some components, including the steel monocoque structure which will replace the expensive spaceframe from the original A2.

We had originally thought that the BMW Megacity (still under development) would be a showdown with the A1, but it’s clear Audi is preparing the A2 as the true competitor from the drivetrain point of view. Depending on style, although the A2 is set to follow the previous model, it won’t be until the BMW Megacity emerges that we can really start to check out the competitors.

New Audi A2 renderings

Source | World Car Fans and Autocar

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The Audi A2 will be back in 2012 as the MPV variant on the new Audi A1. The A2 will share the same platform as the A1, although some technical aspects may still come from the New Small Family platform of the Volkswagen Up!, which is spawning the Volkswagen Lupo, and the same segment cars from Seat and Skoda. The next generation Audi A2 will have the same style and design elements as the A1, including the sloping roof line and similar front and rear.

The A2 will have an extensive engine range, which will include an e-tron electric model, while 2013 could see the arrival of the Audi A2 hybrid. The A2 will mostly have four-cylinder engine units, although if the Volkswagen Up! platform is adopted, three-cylinder may be utilised. Compared to the previous A2, the biggest difference with the new model is its steel and not aluminium chassis, which would result in an increase in price.

Source | Caradisiac

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Audi is trying again with its A2, seen here in a render, despite previous limited success for a car with massive technology for its category. Apparently the new A2 is already at concept-car stage and has been shown to Audi management.

Head of Audi research and development, Michael Dick, conferms that it will be recognisable as an A2, but very different to the old series. The debut is unlikely to be this year, as the company plans an electric version as well.

Design and technical aspects will be created to stay modern for the long term and so as not to repeat the same errors of the previous model. Despite this, Audi priority at this stage remains the A1 and the new A3, the latter being the main focus currently at Audi.

Source | Autocar

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