Audi revives A2 name for its new baby EV

Audi has confirmed that it is bringing back the A2 name with the launch of a new compact EV later this year.

The Audi A2 e-tron will be revealed in autumn 2026 and create a new entry point into its electric line-up, which already includes the Q4 and Q6 SUVs and the A6 saloon/estate. It is expected to act as an electric replacement for the discontinued A1 and Q2 model.

Audi said it will “open up access to premium electric mobility” and meet a growing demand for high-end compact EVs, especially in large European cities.

The brand’s CEO Gernot Döllner said: “We’ve listened. 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.

Audi said the A2 e-tron’s name was a “deliberate nod” to its innovative compact hatchback of the early 2000s. The original A2 was famous for its radical use of materials, weight saving techniques and focus on efficiency as well as its unusual boxy design.

The design sketch shared by Audi and spy shots of a test mule suggest the new A2 e-tron will adopt a similar design with an upright front end and tall rear.

No technical details have been shared but it seems likely that the A2 will be based on the updated MEB platform which underpins the Volkswagen ID 3 and Cupra Born. A modified version of this also sits beneath the new ID Polo and Cupra Raval, and it’s not currently clear whether the Audi will sit closer to those B-segment hatches or the larger ID.3 and Born models.

Depending on which variant of the platform Audi uses, the new A2 e-tron could feature batteries ranging from 37kWh to 79kWh and motors offering up to 322bhp.

The new Audi A2 e-tron will be built at Audi’s home factory in Ingolstadt and is likely to enter production in early 2027.

“The A2 e-tron is crucial for our brand and also for our German home,” said Döllner “With the production of an additional fully electric model family in Ingolstadt, we are securing jobs and delivering electric mobility made in Germany.”