Audi A2
Audi A2 (8Z) | ||
---|---|---|
Kerb weight | 895–1,030 kg (1,973–2,271 lb) |
The Audi A2 (internally designated Typ 8Z)
Packages available in Germany included 'Advance', 'Style', 'High Tech', and later 'S line'; whereas in the United Kingdom, the A2 was available in various trim levels, including: 'Standard', 'SE' (for 'Special Equipment'), 'Sport', 'Special Edition' (2005 only).
History
The A2 was produced at Audi's "aluminium"
Styling
The A2 was a surprise when it debuted only two years after the original Al2 study. Many initial reviews, including those from What Car? and Autocar in the UK commented on the design.
Autocar's initial drive verdict
"The best thing about the A2 is that it isn’t merely a design exercise. Yes, it’s a great car to look at, sit in and touch, but it’s also a riot to drive".[4]
The avant-garde styling did not, however, win favour with some potential customers. Audi was reported to be disappointed with the level of sales. The final production was only 176,377[5] units, in comparison to rival Mercedes-Benz's A-Class sales of 1 million.
Design, engineering and construction
The overriding theme in the design and engineering of the A2 was summarized by the then Audi UK product manager in an interview after the car won a design award in 2001 as "create a small Audi, not a cheap Audi",[6] and the creative brief is said to have been "Transport four people from Stuttgart to Milan on a single tank of petrol".[6]
The A2 is built with a considerable amount of
The A2 still uses a contemporary
Unfortunately, the cost of working with aluminium, particularly with small production runs, meant that the A2 was more expensive than other cars in its sector, competing with the A-class and losing. Much of the high production cost was due to so many parts not being "off the shelf" and being specifically optimized for the A2.[10] From Autobild in 2003: "The A2 is not one of the models with the highest return on investment". The same article quotes the sales figures for 2002 as being 20,000 in Germany against 80,000 for the A-Class and "...lots of money for a car that is only 3.8m long."[11]
Audi was the first manufacturer to try to incorporate lightweight building concepts using aluminium and associated alloys into a "mass market" vehicle.[citation needed] Previous efforts at using the Audi Space Frame were limited to the rather more expensive Audi A8. As a guide to the mass involved, the entire shell weighs so little that two people can easily pick it up, and the side panel over the doors including the A- and D-pillars weighs approximately 2 kg (4 lb). A 2002 model A2 with standard equipment has a mass of 895 kg (1,973 lb).
The A2 can thus be considered a trailblazer for various newer aluminium-based vehicles, such as the second generation Audi A8, the Audi TT, and Jaguar's X350 Jaguar XJ and 2006 Jaguar XK.
Parts of the A2 which are still made of steel include the bulkhead behind the front bumper (the "slam panel"), the wiper arm, standard A2 suspension components (the 3 L ones are frequently of aluminium alloy), the rear brake drums and the exhaust system.
Interior
The A2 has a large interior space for the exterior dimensions, including a
The A2's interior was very upmarket in comparison with other
Quattro GmbH – as Audi Exclusive – were prepared to customise the A2 in the same ways that they would any other Audi. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the number of "Individual" painted cars is extremely small; among the several thousand German A2 owners represented in the A2-freun.de forum, only two individual cars have ever been noted. The colours available corresponded to the extended Volkswagen Group palette at the time—including any Volkswagen Group colour and many others too—but the option was expensive, at around €2000.[12] A set of 10 A2s is said to have been created in Almond beige with orange color.storm interiors as dealer demonstrators and at least two of these have been seen on the used market in the past. It is impossible to document the existence of these vehicles, not least due to the lack of co-operation from the German authorities in terms of freely available, reliable, colour information, and that used-car websites are not archived.
The A2 had many innovative ideas, such as the space floor storage system which was a box that slotted in the rear passenger foot well, a rear cup holder which unclipped, and a double (false) floor boot where items could be hidden from thieves or where the space saver spare wheel could be stored. The warning triangle and first aid kit are stowed directly to the left of the boot opening. The toolkit was stored, depending on equipment, next to the battery. If space was needed for the navigation system and/or the Bose subwoofer, it was moved to the sandwich compartment in front of the right-front seat (driver on UK cars, passenger on LHD ones). The headrests also do not need to be removed from the rear seats when they are folded, and a four-seater can have the rear seats removed in a matter of seconds. The rear seat belts have a clip in the upper section of the c-pillar, so that when the seats are folded and returned to their normal position, the belts do not get tangled. More examples of energy saving can be found in the glovebox light that only turns on when the lights are on and the freewheel pulley on the alternator belt, meaning that the alternator is only used when necessary. The climate compressor is also turned off when the ambient temperature drops below 5 °C. The ECON function of the climate control (where fitted) also turns off the auxiliary heating or the compressor, depending on temperature. This functionality is unaffected by the presence of fuel-powered or electrical auxiliary heating.
Service Hatch (Serviceklappe)
The front of the car included an unusual design feature called the "Serviceklappe" in German – this translates to "service hatch" or "service panel". On early cars, this was a glossy black panel at the lower edge of the
The bonnet was widely rumoured to be sealed – Car and Driver wrote: "...feature of the A2 that may foretell the future: the sealed hood". Actually, the bonnet is easily removed, being held in place by two twist-lock catches. The bonnet, weighing 8 kg, then comes away from the car altogether, unlike the usual hinged flip-up arrangement on most other cars. Due to the service hatch, the bonnet does not need to be removed frequently for access to the engine.
Facelift and additional models
The service hatch is the most obvious indicator of the age of any particular A2. It was changed to matte black for the "color.storm" colour schemes, and for model year 2004 it acquired fake grille slats. However it can be changed easily, so it should not be taken as a reliable age indicator.[13] Very little else was changed externally during the life of the car. Colours and wheels designs were changed mildly during the production run. The only other external indicator of the age of the car is the windscreen wiper. Very early models have a traditional blade, but starting in model year 2002, newer cars have a "flex" version ("Aerotwin" from Bosch, model 760).
Changes and additions
2000–2001
- February 2000: introduction of the A2 with 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) petrol engine[14]
- September 2000: introduction of the 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) diesel
- June 2001: introduction of the 1.2 TDI engine in 3L into mainland European market.
2002–2003
- CAN-BUS is used for the OBD systems, as required by EU Regulations.
- Aerotwin wiper
- Aluminium trim pack becomes standard equipment in the UK
- Diesel-engined A2s after May 2002 no longer have a pre-heater run by diesel, but a powerful internal electrical heating element.
- May 2002: Use of the 42l petrol tank in all non 3l versions. 3l available with 21l standard tank or 34l tank, allowing a theoretical 1100 km range.
- June 2002: 1.6 FSI engine introduced with the larger (42l) petrol tank and re-modelled rear spoiler (higher position, larger size to increase high speed stability). Non S-line FSI's featured re-tuned softer suspension tuning due to many complaints over the harsh ride of other models
- The first color.storms (in 'Misano' red, 'Imola' yellow and 'Sprint' blue) became available. These brought colours which had only previously been available on S and RS models or as an Audi Exclusive option to the standard colour chart.
- Diesel engines used after September 2003, engine code BHC, fulfil the requirements for Euro4 exhaust emissions, again as a result of legislation.
- Spare tyre and tyre repair kit delete becomes a paid-for optional extra in the UK
2003–2004
- Extended color.storm colour options, including 'Papaya' orange and later 'Avus' silver
- September / October 2003: Availability of the 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) TDI. Grille now with slats (but still solid), new Matrix cloth replaces both satellite and jacquard-satin cloth, yellow leather no longer available, additional external colours available including Akoya Silver and Mauritius Blue, New Wheel designs became available
- Use of MK60 ESP / ABS system.
- FSI and 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) TDI engines phased out towards late 2004/early 2005
2005
- Special Edition (including UK
- Audi lost an estimated £4,000 on every A2 they sold and only made money on cars with optional extras. Continued production of the model was reviewed by the board of directors
- Production of the A2 is halted by
Special versions
Audi also has a version of the A2 in its Neckarsulm plant which has been converted into a pickup truck by trainees – the "A2 Caddy". This was on public show for the first time at the A2-Club of Germany's annual meeting in Amberg, Germany, in August 2005. Pictures of the event are available on the German A2-freun.de site linked below.
Audi also released an S-line version in Germany as of late 2002, with 17" 9-spoke "RS4" style wheels (standard were 15"), sports seats with large side bolsters and lumbar support, special half-leather seat coverings with Pearl Nappa leather and Sprint cloth, leather handbrake handle, perforated leather gearstick and 3-spoke steering wheel and 10 mm lowered sports
In the UK, the last Audi A2s (from early 2005 to June 2005) were badged as special edition models featuring a reduced price tag, digital climate control and a 'Concert II' radio with CD player as standard. They were the only models available in the UK at this time and were available with either the 1.4 petrol or 1.4 TDI engines. This special edition gave the A2 a final sales boost in the UK.[citation needed]
Lekker/DBM electric version
In October 2010, an A2 converted to electric power by Lekker Energie and DBM Energy completed an early morning 600-kilometre (370 mi) drive from
The car was said to still have 18% of its charge remaining on arrival in Berlin and the average speed was reported as being 90 km/h (56 mph). The "kolibri" batteries used in the design are so compact that the vehicle retains its four seats and boot space. A production version would be possible. "The technology could be implemented today. It is up to industry to use this potential," commented Mirko Hannemann, the head of DBM.[19]
Remaining numbers in UK and Germany
The number of remaining A2s as with many older cars is decreasing over time. The aluminium chassis is frequently written off by insurers due to the relative dearth of "aluminium specialists" [20]
Other repair specialisations are subject to denial on the part of Audi both in the UK and Germany, especially when dealing with Open Sky.[21]
1.2 TDI "3L"
The Audi A2 1.2
Two versions of the car were available in Germany during its production run. The D4 version, which used only 3 L/100 km (94 mpg‑imp; 78 mpg‑US), was "standard." It had no
The second version, which was at least available in Germany, was a D3 version which was still capable of 3.0 L/100 km. This version had options for air conditioning, a winter package, and a comfort package, but was not available in all markets. Ordering these packages ensured power steering or spot lamps as part of a package. The OSS system was not available at all on the 3L.
Both versions had thinner glass, lighter seats,
The rear spoiler was reshaped, moved and extended through wind tunnel testing, and additional underbody panels were added to minimize drag to achieve a 0.25 cd figure.[25] The car had an automated manual transmission with a Tiptronic mode on the selector. The car also had an ECO mode. When engaged it limited the power to 41 bhp (31 kW; 42 PS) (excluding kick down) and programmed the transmission to change up at the most economical point. ECO mode also activated the start/stop function, a feature that was new to European cars at the time.[26] In ECO mode, the clutch was disengaged when the accelerator pedal was released for maximum economy, so the car freewheels as much as possible, with the clutch re-engaging as soon as the accelerator pedal or brake pedal is touched. The 3L also has only 4 wheel bolts and finned alloy brake drums at the rear, along with many
A total of 6450[5] 1.2 TDI models were built.
Technical specifications
The following internal combustion engines were available:
Engine name |
Displacement / Configuration |
Max. power | Max. torque | Engine ID Code(s) |
0-100 km/h (62 mph) (seconds) |
Top speed |
Fuel consumption[28] |
Years produced[1] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Petrol engines all fuel injected | ||||||||
1.4 16v | 1390 cc DOHC |
55 PS; 74 bhp )@ 5,000 rpm |
126 N⋅m (93 lbf⋅ft) @ 3,800 rpm |
AUA, BBY |
12.3 sec | 173 km/h (107.5 mph) | 6.0 L/100 km (47.1 mpg‑imp; 39.2 mpg‑US) | 06/00–04/02 05/02–08/05 |
1.6 FSI | 1598 cc inline 4cyl 16v DOHC Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) |
81 kW (110 PS; 109 bhp) @ 5,800 rpm |
155 N⋅m (114 lbf⋅ft) @ 4,400 rpm |
BAD | 9.8 sec | 202 km/h (125.5 mph) | 5.9 L/100 km (47.9 mpg‑imp; 39.9 mpg‑US) | 05/02–08/05 |
Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI)
| ||||||||
1.2 TDI aka: 3L |
1191 cc SOHC |
45 PS; 60 bhp )@ 4,000 rpm |
140 N⋅m (103 lbf⋅ft) @ 1,800–2,400 rpm |
ANY | 14.9 sec | 168 km/h (104.4 mph) | 3.0 L/100 km (94.2 mpg‑imp; 78.4 mpg‑US) | 03/01–08/05 |
1.4 TDI | 1422 cc inline 3cyl SOHC | 55 kW (75 PS; 74 bhp) @ 4,000 rpm |
195 N⋅m (144 lbf⋅ft) @ 2,200 rpm |
AMF, BHC |
12.6 sec | 173 km/h (107.5 mph) | 4.3 L/100 km (65.7 mpg‑imp; 54.7 mpg‑US) | 06/00–08/03 09/03–08/05 |
1.4 TDI | 1422 cc inline 3cyl SOHC | 66 kW (90 PS; 89 bhp) @ 4,000 rpm |
230 N⋅m (170 lbf⋅ft) @ 1,900–2,200 rpm |
ATL | 10.9 sec | 188 km/h (116.8 mph) | 4.3 L/100 km (65.7 mpg‑imp; 54.7 mpg‑US) | 11/03–08/05 |
A2 Concept (2011)
At the
A lithium-ion battery placed between the floor holds 24 kWh of usable charge. An electric motor is transversely mounted at the front of the vehicle, the electric motor delivers through the front wheels and uses a single-speed transmission. The vehicle will also incorporate shift-by-wire, brake-by-wire and steer-by-wire contactless technology, and LED matrix technology for the headlights and tail lights.[29]
In June 2012, the
It was reported that, according to the director of e-mobility and sustainability strategy at Audi of America, the A2 electric concept was not a developmental prototype with a test program, but a one-off concept car to be shown at auto shows.[31]
Technical specifications (2011 A2 concept)
Engine | Transmission
|
Maximum Power | Maximum Torque | Top Speed | Acceleration 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) | Battery capacity and Range | Charge Time | Weight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Electric Motor[29] | 1 Speed | 85 kW
(59 kW Continuous) |
270 Nm
(160 Nm Continuous) |
Limited to 150 km/h (93 mph) | 9.3 s | 31 kWh 200 km (124 Miles) |
4 hours (240 V)
1.5 hours (400 V) |
1,150 kg |
Sales figures
Year | Europe sales[32] |
---|---|
2000 | 17,781 |
2001 | 51,517 |
2002 | 39,914 |
2003 | 28,647 |
2004 | 22,136 |
2005 | 13,026 |
2006 | 421 |
See also
- Mercedes A-Class
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j ETKA official factory data[clarification needed]
- ^ "Audi A2 1.2 TDI Dimensions". audiworld.com/news. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
- ^ CarAutoPortal.com http://www.carautoportal.com/audi/audi-a2.php Archived 25 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine Audi A2
- ^ "Autocar UK". Autocar.co.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
- ^ a b Pander, Jürgen (20 August 2009). "Spiegel". Der Spiegel. Spiegel.de. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
- ^ a b "Innovative Audi A2", British Design & Art Direction (archived link, 6 January 2004)
- ^ Berg, Peter. ""Nordic Eco Rrun" avgjort i Östersund". Snow Rally Sweden. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ "Audi A2 press release". Audiworld.com. Archived from the original on 24 January 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ^ a b "Automobile Bodies: Can Aluminum Be an Economical Alternative to Steel?". tms.org. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ^ "A2 Forum – Einzelnen Beitrag anzeigen – 10 Jahre A2 – Treffen Neckarsulm am Sa, 28.11.09 – Diskussionsthread". a2-freun.de. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ^ "Dauertest Audi A2 1.4 – Ein Typ, der nicht ankam – Testberichte". autobild.de. Archived from the original on 16 January 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ^ Sven Hansen (27 June 2009). "Preise Sonderausstattung – Audi A2 Museum". audia2museum.de. Archived from the original on 7 February 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
- ^ [1] A2OC
- ^ [2] Archived 28 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine A2 Museum
- ^ "VW chief in storm over 'axing' of key models". am-online.com/. 11 September 2002.
- ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ url=http://audia2museum.de/57.html Archived 7 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "German electric car sets new distance record". PhysOrg.com. 26 October 2010.
- ^ "600 kilometer ohne nachladen". spiegel.de. 2 November 2010.
- ^ "Welding – Beginner Guide to Aluminum". Classic.artsautomotive.com. 3 September 2008. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ^ "Ratgeber Dachreparatur – Audi mit Dachschaden – Autoreparatur". autobild.de. 28 February 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ^ "Audi A2 1.2 TDI". audiworld.com. 16 February 2001. Archived from the original on 29 January 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ^ Power steering makes use of hydraulic pump which requires additional energy; air conditioning requires a pump and a compressor, which require additional energy; any other "extra" on a car requires energy, and the more energy is consumed, the more fuel is needed, thus reducing mileage and economy of the vehicle. Additional weight also requires more power during acceleration and while moving on slopes, causing additional energy (=fuel) consumption and thus economy reduction.
- ^ "Lear Corporation Custom Designs Ultra-Lightweight Seats For New 1.2-Litre Audi A2". audiworld.com. 12 June 2000. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ^ "A2 1.4tdi – bluemotion oder wie könnte man in richtung 3L "basteln" – A2 Forum". a2-freun.de. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ^ "Gebrauchtwagentest: Saubere Alternativen – Autos fürs grüne Gewissen – Testberichte". autobild.de. 14 December 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
- ^ Sven Hansen (27 June 2009). "A2 1.2 TDI 3L – Audi A2 Museum". audia2museum.de. Archived from the original on 6 February 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
- ^ Automobil Revue, catalogue edition 2005, p.121-22. Fuel consumption= EU city cycle.
- ^ a b "Audi A2". audi.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ^ Ollie Kew and Georg Kacher (5 June 2012). "Audi pulls plug on €40k A2 electric car". CAR magazine.
- ^ Jim Motavalli (7 June 2012). "In Audi E-tron Program, Pure Electrics Surrender Some Charge to Plug-in Hybrids". The New York Times – Wheels blog.
- ^ Sales, Audi Model. "Audi A2 Sales Figures". GCBC. Retrieved 8 February 2024.