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FIRST OFFICIAL PICTURES OF AUDI'S DARING A2 MINI-CAR |
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Back in 1997 at the Frankfurt Motor Show Audi displayed a daring aluminium-bodied concept car named Al2. The show car was ultra-compact yet seated four adults in comfort. Two years later and that concept has been turned into the production car you see on the left. Little has been changed. Even the official name is to be A2. The A2, cute and compact as it is, is more than just another super-mini though. It is the first aluminium car to be signed off for volume production. The word "volume" is key here. Previously, nobody has found an efficient method to produce such a car. Audi have. |
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The A2 retains the original show-car's geometric design features also, while remaining faithful to the Audi family-look. Shut-lines are sharp and clear, the wheel arches are accentuated, the bumpers virtually flush, aiding an impressively low drag co-efficient of just 0.28. That same body is made by use of Audi's own Space Frame technology as used in the A8. Audi claim that the body weighs 43% less than it would if built using steel and conventional manufacturing processes. The actual kerb weight is only 895kg. This is lower than any of its rivals and will obviously improve the fuel economy, along with, possibly, the road-holding. Another interesting idea is the 'Space Floor Concept', meaning that the rear footwells are lower than those up front, considerably increasing rear passenger space. To compete with larger MPVs, the A2's rear seats can be folded down individually and even removed completely. This is certainly going to help the Audi A2 in it's battle against the nifty new Toyota Yaris Verso. Final specifications have yet to be announced, but, at Frankfurt, two 1.4-litre engines will be on show. The first is a turbo-diesel unit, with only three cylinders managing to pump out 75bhp. Audi claim that the economy of this unit is as good as 67.3mpg. The second engine on display will be a petrol engine, also with 75bhp. This engine has already passed EU4 pollution legislation, and is claimed to achieve 46.3mpg. |
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Audi hope to add to the engine range with a 'three litre' car - i.e. one that travels 100km on only 3.0 litres of fuel. The suspension set-up is conventional in comparison to the rest of the car - MacPherson struts at the front, torsion beams at the rear. Add to this anti-lock brakes, Electronic Brake Force Distribution and Electronic Stability Program, and there is no doubt that the A2 is designed to be capable, but above all safe. This is reinforced through the standard driver, front passenger and front side airbags, with the option of Audi's 'sideguard' head airbags. |
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The A2 will not be on sale until the summer of 2000. Pricing details will be announced then. Hopefully there will be an S2 version to show you by then......
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