Electric Audi A2 e-tron promises up to 400-mile range and prices from £32k

The new electric Audi A2 e-tron arrives, promising a range of up to 400 miles and prices from £32,000. On sale in October.

It’s a quarter of a century since the Audi A2 arrived as an eco-friendly Audi with advanced tech and a slippery shape – and a £15k price tag  – and although it didn’t really sell well in its day, it has become something of a cult classic.

Production of the A2 ended in 2005 with Audi said to have lost around £5k on every A2 sold; despite this, Audi returned in 2011 with an A2 EV Concept, although it never reached production.

Now the A2 returns as a new EV – with VW ID. 3 underpinnings – and a design clearly heavily influenced by the original A2 and a slippery drag coefficient of 0.24 (which is quite impressive, but it’s worth noting the original was 0.25).

The A2 gets battery options – 52kWh, 61kWh and 84kWh – and a quartet of motors – 168bhp, 188bhp, 228bhp and 323bhp – with the 188bhp version delivering 4.85m/kWh.

Inside, there’s a 12.8″ infotainment and 11.9″ driver display, ‘Softwrap’ fabric, ergonomic seats, optional panoramic roof, plenty of recycled materials, and haptic buttons on the steering wheel (why?).

Audi CEO Gernot Döllner said:

Our customers want electric mobility that impresses in everyday life.

The A2 e-tron is our promise to deliver exactly that — efficient, compact, and thoughtfully designed down to the last detail. We’re making entry into the electric Audi world easier and more relevant than ever.

The new A2 will go on sale in October with prices from £32k, although that could well drop as the A2 is likely to qualify for the £1,500 ECG.