Audi is set to introduce a small electric SUV that will – possibly controversially – be called the A2 e-tron. Assuming it doesn't change its naming structure again before it's properly revealed, of course.
The news was revealed during the German carmaker’s annual media update, with Audi saying that the new car would be aimed at a younger urban demographic and that it would be built at the company’s home factory in Ingolstadt, north of Munich.
“We’ve listened,” said Audi CEO Gernot Döllner. “Our customers want electric mobility that impresses in everyday life. 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.”
When we heard that Audi was resurrecting the – if not iconic, then at least very meaningful – A2 name for a new electric car we immediately rehashed the whole Mustang Mach-E debate in our heads, but the glimpse we’ve had of the car so far is reassuringly familiar.
All we’ve got from Audi so far is a darkened silhouette of the new car – and the company is wise to any shenanigans, it seems that the image is strictly a computer generated design sketch rather than an actual photo because we popped it into a photo editing programme straight away and there are no more clues to be had that way.
There’s no word yet on any of the practicalities – size, batteries, range, etc – but it would make sense for Audi to have a small electric crossover built on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB+ platform alongside the Volkswagen ID.Cross, Skoda Epiq and Cupra Raval.
Though given the fact that all three of those cars are being built at a VW factory in Pamplona, Spain it hints that Audi could be set to go its own way. The A3 and A5 model lines are currently built in Ingolstadt, but there will be spare capacity there now that the ancient Q2 crossover has finally stopped production.
We’re told that the A2 e-tron will be revealed in ‘autumn 2026’, which could mean a Paris motor show reveal to steal the thunder of Stellantis and its French brands, or perhaps more likely a standalone event.
