The A2 is back — but this time it runs on electrons

Audi revives the A2 name with an all-electric hatchback on the MEB+ platform. It replaces both the A1 and the Q2, with a debut planned for autumn 2026.

Audi is bringing back the A2 name after a long pause, but the format will be different. The original A2 was a compact one-box hatchback with an aluminium body; the new one is an all-electric hatchback called the A2 e-tron, and it will replace both the A1 and the Q2 in the line-up.

Prototypes are currently being fine-tuned: Audi is testing the car on snow, ice, public roads and in the wind tunnel in Ingolstadt. The airflow there reaches up to 300 km/h, and the belt under the wheels moves at speeds of up to 235 km/h. For a small urban EV this isn’t about records — it’s about noise, cooling and high-speed stability.

The A2 e-tron will sit on the MEB+ platform, familiar from the updated Volkswagen ID.3 Neo and the facelifted Cupra Born. The architecture is 400 volts, so don’t expect ultra-fast 800 V charging. On the upside, this base gives Audi a ready-made set of motors, batteries and proven solutions.

The premiere is scheduled for autumn 2026, with production set up in Ingolstadt. The starting price is expected to come in below €35,000 — roughly $40,600. For the mass segment that’s steep, but for Audi it should be the most affordable EV in the range.

The A2 e-tron’s main job is to fill the gap left by the outgoing A1 and Q2 — without petrol versions. Audi is clearly betting on buyers who want a small premium city car but are no longer willing to pay for a conventional ICE hatchback.