How much more efficient?
Audi’s claim is that the new A2 e-tron will put a massive 646km between charges, depending on the model. That’s an extra 16km compared to the longest-range version of the ID.3 Neo - not a huge difference, it must be said, but every little helps when you’re trying to eke out a charge.
Which version of the new Audi A2 e-tron goes the furthest?
Ah, this is where it gets interesting. To get that maximum 646km range, you’ll need the A2 e-tron with the biggest battery, 79kWh of usable stored energy. However, the mid-spec A2 e-tron isn’t too shabby when it comes to range either, with a 58kWh battery that offers a substantial 500km of range. Compare that to the ID.3 Neo with the same battery, which manages 494km - again, not a huge difference, but every little helps. There’s also an entry-level A2 e-tron with a 50kWh battery that manages a range of 420km, which could be more usable than it seems. Critically, the two smaller batteries use lithium-iron phosphate chemistry (LFP), which is more robust and less sensitive to charging in the longer term.
What about power in the new Audi A2 e-tron?
The new Audi A2 e-tron will have four electric motor options, all driving the rear wheels: a basic 170hp motor; a 190hp motor, which is reckoned to be the most efficient option; a 231hp option; or a range-topping 286hp motor with up to 545Nm of torque.
How efficient will the new Audi A2 e-tron be?
Obviously, we have only the official figures to go on, and it will be interesting to see how the A2 e-tron performs in the real world once we get our hands on the keys, but Audi claims that - when fitted with the optional ‘efficiency package’ - the 170hp A2 e-tron has energy consumption as low as 12.8kWh/100km. In basic form, the smallest battery variant claims 13.7kWh/100km, while the most powerful version has claimed efficiency of 14.2kWh/100km. There’s vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging as well, so the A2 e-tron can be used to power other devices, or even your house.
What makes it so efficient?
Audi hasn’t just plucked the A2 badge out of the ether. As with the 1990s original, the idea here was to make this car as aerodynamically efficient as it could be, so every surface has been worked over to make sure it cuts through the air with maximal efficiency. A drag coefficient of 0.24Cd isn’t spectacular, but for a tall-ish hatchback it’s doing well. It’s helped by aerodynamic shutters that can open (for cooling) or close (for better aero), a flat undertray, and special attention paid to the way air flows around the wheels, which is always the most turbulent part of the car from an aerodynamics point of view. As well as being more efficient, that aero-friendliness has also helped with cabin refinement. Not only are the exterior door handles reduced to tiny little finger-sized aero flicks (rather like those of a Volvo EX60), Audi claims that the likes of optimised exterior mirror housings, door seals with dual sealing lines, and a water deflector channel along the window edges all help to keep the interior quiet.
What’s that interior like?
There’s a lot of familiar Audi stuff in there, from a steering wheel shared with the Q4 e-tron to the big ‘digital skateboard’ conjoined screens on top of the dashboard. The A2 e-tron gets the same neat stubby column stalks as seen in the current Q3, and although the air conditioning controls are on the screen (boo!) Audi has retained a proper volume knob for the stereo (yay!). The dashboard is covered in a soft material - called Softwrap, apparently - which is a bit more welcoming than the usual hard-edged plastic and chrome look. There’s also a large plinth under the main touchscreen, which is home to a high-speed 25-watt wireless phone charger.
Space inside the cabin is comparable to that of the Volkswagen ID.3 and Curpa Born - so pretty decent, then - and the boot is a similar size too; in fact at 396 litres it’s actually fractionally larger than that of the VW ID.3 and the A2 e-tron gets a tiny 13-litre ‘frunk’ in the nose, which is just about big enough for a tightly coiled charging cable. Incidentally, Audi claims that the A2 e-tron can function as a ‘mobile office’ with built-in connections for Microsoft Teams and Outlook, as well as the usual Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
What other tech is in the new Audi A2 e-tron?
There’s a clever route planner, which Audi says uses artificial intelligence to “consider traffic conditions, route topography, and the availability and output of charging stations in real time” and which can therefore help you plan your longer journeys more accurately, at least in theory.
For those who love their music, there’s an optional Sonos sound system with a 650-watt amp. For those who like light, there’s an optional glass roof, while the automated parking assistant can learn your most commonly used manoeuvres and locations. It also offers remote charging and air conditioning controls through the Audi smartphone app.
What about the new Audi A2 e-tron’s eco-rating?
Quite apart from the efficiency of its motors and batteries, Audi is keen to mention the A2 e-tron’s other environmental credentials such as the more than 300 components made from recycled materials, including steel, aluminium, and plastics. More than 100 of these components contain post-consumer recycled materials - reprocessed raw materials taken from sources such as end-of-life vehicles and reused in automotive applications.
When can I buy the new Audi A2 e-tron?
Audi says that the first deliveries will take place in December, although for Ireland it will probably be closer to January or February. Prices for Ireland are still to be announced.
What does CompleteCar think?
The new A2 e-tron sticks closer to the template of the original than we were expecting - thank god it’s not a crossover - and its efficiency is also a big tip of the hat to the 1990s A2. If it can replicate that kind of efficiency in real-world driving, the new Audi A2 could be a bit of a stunner.
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