The Audi A2 turns 25 years old and, although it is no longer on the market, many people still think about it

European premium brands focus on launching mid-range and high-end models, paying little attention to the entry-level ones. But they have not always overlooked city cars, since for a long time these have also been important for these brands. Audi had its urban model, small, easy to handle and designed to spend little. It was the Audi A2, which this year turns 25 and, although it is no longer on the market, many people remember it fondly.

The origin of this model lies in the idea of building a small car capable of achieving a consumption of three litres per 100 kilometres. With this idea, development of the model began, which still took some time to reach production. In 1995 a prototype arrived that was named “Ringo“.

This body was light and simple to manufacture, so it was perfectly suited to shaping this small, urban and practical model. The two-door body was ideal for this model and could be seen as the almost definitive form of the small city car. But it was not yet the moment for the Audi A2, because several studies on the model were still pending.

In 1999 one of these two studies on the model was presented, called Audi AI2, which received the name Light Green, after the colour of its body. At the Tokyo Motor Show the second prototype was presented, called Light Blue, also because of its body colour. It had three doors and an additional space for carrying cargo, as well as a retractable sunroof. The official name of this prototype was AI2 open end.

The car was tested for a long time in the wind tunnel and they managed to obtain the aerodynamic result they had hoped for. So at the end of 1997 series production was approved, and it began to be built for all those who were waiting for a car with these characteristics. At the Neckarsulm plant investments were made that allowed this model to become the first four-door compact with a consumption of three litres per 100 kilometres.

The engines of the Audi A2

The Audi A2 had two petrol engines and three diesel variants. The petrol versions had an inline four-cylinder engine and were paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. These engines offered a combined consumption of 5.9 litres per 100 kilometres, not bad for what was expected of it.

The diesel versions used three-cylinder engines with direct injection through a unit injector system. In 2000, the year of the definitive launch, a petrol version and a TDI were introduced, both with an output of 75 CV. The goal was reached with a diesel engine that offered 62 CV and met the three-litre target.

In 2002 the TFSI engine arrived, raising output to 110 CV, which allowed a top speed of 200 km/h. Special editions followed, until in 2005 176,377 units were reached, which, although an interesting figure, did not fulfil the expectations created by the manufacturers, and production was discontinued.

It is no longer in the catalogue today, but it still has devoted fans who believe it was a good idea to have a small car for moving through the city in style.