A new entry-level Audi electric hatch has been spied testing on public roads in Europe, revealing design cues from the existing Audi Q4 e-tron mid-size electric SUV and the German brand’s iconic A2 hatch – which was never sold in Australia.
The new model’s similarities with the A2 – a super-frugal, city-friendly, aluminium-bodied hatch sold in Europe between 2000 and 2005 – suggest the yet-to-be-named electric vehicle (EV) could revive the A2 name.
Audi has previously confirmed it will begin production of a new electric SUV to sit below the Q4 e-ton at its main Ingolstadt plant in 2026.
Audi Australia has not confirmed whether the model will be offered here after it goes on sale in Europe in 2027.
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The new ‘baby e-tron’ is not a direct replacement for any current model but will take over from both the A1 light hatch and the Q2 small SUV, both of which are set to be dropped in 2026.
Audi CEO Gernot Dollner previously told British publication Autocar the company could reinstate historic names, such as the A2, and that there was room in the company’s model range for a high-end smaller offering.
“There are not many brands in the world, but I think Audi can have a true premium offer in the A [light car] segment,” Mr Dollner told Autocar.
“A really positive part of our strategy is that in the A segment, we rely on Volkswagen Group synergies. We use platforms shared with other brands and [integrate] Audi differentiation in terms of quattro [all-wheel drive] and power and technology.”
“That strategy is very healthy, and we will move on with that. That will also be our strategy in the battery-electric age.”
The new hatch is expected to be based on the Volkswagen Group’s dedicated-electric MEB platform, which underpins everything from VW ID models to the Q4 e-tron, Cupra Tavascan and Skoda Elroq, all of which are sold in Australia.
The baby e-tron will be smaller than the Q4 e-tron, which measures 4488mm long, 2108mm wide and 1632mm high, and should also undercut the new Audi Q3 in terms of dimensions.
The newest of those MEB-based electric SUVs sold in Australia is the Elroq – Skoda’s cheapest EV, starting at $49,990 drive-away.
In its entry-level form, the Elroq uses a single 150kW/310Nm electric motor to drive the rear wheels, with a 63kWh lithium-ion battery offering a 395km (WLTP) driving range.
The top-spec Elroq’s 82kWh battery is standard in the Q4 e-tron, the entry-level rear-wheel drive version of which has a 210kW/545Nm electric motor, a 540km range and is priced at $84,900 before on-road costs.