Over the past few years, Audi has teased us with concept vehicles indicating that the automaker’s next-generation A2 may be offered with an electric-only powertrain, or maybe with some type of plug-in hybrid option. Back in March, the rumormill blazed with reports that the upcoming “state-of-the-art” A2 will tip the scales at a scant 1,800 pounds.
Engineers at Audi have reportedly set an internal weight target of 800 kilograms (1,764 pounds) for the four-seat A2, but that’s awful light and seems like it would require the use of Audi’s costly Multimaterial Space Frame (MSF) technology. We hope this doesn’t imply that Audi’s use of unobtanium interrupts the debut of the A2.
Now, the A2 rumormill is on fire again, with reports that Audi will unveil its European-only electric A2 e-tron concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show this September. We’ll believe it when we see it.
Apparently, deciding upon powertrains to pack into the compact A2 and setting a weight target has pushed back the vehicle’s launch until sometime before the end of this decade.
[Source: All Cars Electric]
