Over the past couple of years, Audi has teased us with concept cars and leaked info 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. Now, the rumormill is blazing with reports that the upcoming “state-of-the-art” A2 will tip the scales at under 1,800 pounds. According to Autocar’s “company sources”:
A new A2 is being discussed internally and a number of concepts are being looked at. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was shown first as a concept. I’m sure that the new car will be in a similar mold of the old model: futuristic, low volume and using state-of-the-art technology. It will be an unashamedly hi-tech Audi.
Engineers have reportedly set an internal weight target of 800 kilograms (1,764 pounds) for the four-seat A2, but that’s awful light and hitting that mark would likely require the use of Audi’s costly Multimaterial Space Frame (MSF) technology, which is made out of steel, aluminum and carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) bonded, screwed and riveted together.
Apparently, deciding upon powertrains to shoehorn into the compact A2 and setting a weight target has pushed back the vehicle’s launch until sometime in 2015, or possibly even later. We hope this doesn’t imply that Audi is using some sort of unobtanium in the car.
[Source: Autocar]
