A2 to stop production in 2005

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What went wrong? Autocar reported today the VW/Audi group plans to drop the A2 in 2005 along with the Seat Arosa/VW Lupo, Seat Alhambra and that the Beetle will continue for 8 years and then slip away.

I suppose it was always possible given the relatively small sales numbers and (in my experience) large warranty claims.

It still comes as a surprise though.

I don't know what will happen to residuals. I guess it is possible that it could become a sought after collectors car and as such prices may rise?
 
Interesting, I had heard that there we're more models on the way, an s2 sport version (I hope). There hasn't been enough advertising in my opinion, and as an x mercedes Aclass owner I have found the A2 much more innovative and exciting, the Aclass looks tired. The Aclass has become Mercedes best selling car, and after Stellios from Easyjet, much to my dismay claimed the car as his easycar rental flagship, this proved the best move ever for Mercedes, more Aclasses on the road more potential buyers see it. I still get really strange looks when I drive my A2 and loads of my friends think I'm driving some sort of test concept car. Although from an owners point of view the less on the road the better and more exclusive the car, I do hope that the A2 becomes Audi's flagship. More adverts and publicity etc......

A2 1.6fsi sport climate cd amulet red
 
I think Audi want to move back to the premium category and as such a supermini doesn't fit.

I think Merc won the "war" simply because they got there first. The elk test may have been a godsend because at least it got it into the public eye.

I went the other way. After 2 A2's I got a Merc 170CDI Elegance LWB. It doesn't drive or handle as well. But it has acres more space, better equipment and no faults in 18 months. I have a blue one with a light interior and it looks less tired than any of the others.

The A2 is better looking, although to be fair it can be said to go wrong at the back.

Interestingly I followed a red 1.6 FSi last night and I thought that it was a colour that really did the A2 justice. In fact I think the red ones are the best colour of all.
 
Hi all,

I heard a rumour (and that's what it is, nothing more than that yet) that Audi indeed plans to stop the A2. Don't know when. It seems the car is to expensive, to produce and to purchase. I also heard there are plans in the VAG-concern to develop an "A2-follow-up" on the same platform, but with the name Seat on it and not from alu anymore. In that way it could be produced a lot cheaper. Rumour as I said, but there is no smoke without fire.

I don't know where that leaves us, A2 owners. The original could become a collector's item, but there's the possibility too that no one wants to buy it second hand because there is a 'new' car for a lower price.

JanF

2001 1.4 Petrol Exclusive
Cobalt Blue Metallic
 
Yep! Heard the same rumour from very reliable sources already 2 months ago. Audi started the A2 planning low production numbers, but intended to lift the amounts up to double.
The car seems not to be taken serious, few people like it, most find it way to expensive. So orders weren't what Audi hoped. If the results aren't to become better in the next period then the A2 is ment to die silently.
A few weeks after hearing this I ordered my A2. Hoping that my contribution would do a little, but mostly because I really like the car. Despite the high price and the extremely low second hand value.

Anyway, nothing is decided yet. Since most people are very conservative, I hope a lot still aren't used to a car that looks good. They might reconsider soon and A2 can become popular. Result: more demand, Audi happy, A2 lives on.
And if not, well we all have a remarkable and fairly exclusive car. You won't be compared by a sheep.

Greetings, Thierry
 
According to www.audi.de (can you get closer to the fire) Audi will launch a sport version of the A2 indeed.

Audi A2

Mehr Sportlichkeit, mehr Emotionalität und mehr Exklusivität – unter diesem Motto stehen die neuen S line Sportpakete der Audi Tochter quattro GmbH.

Beim Audi A2 S line vermittelt das Sportfahrwerk der quattro GmbH durch Tieferlegung, speziell abgestimmte Federung und straffere Dämpfung einen noch direkteren Kontakt zur Straße. Vier Aluminium-Gussräder 7 Jx17 im 9-Speichen-Design mit Reifen 205/40 R 17 akzentuieren den Audi A2 auch optisch.

Eine weitere Voraussetzung für sportlicheres Fahrgefühl ist ein sportiver Innenraum. Die passgenauen Sportsitze in schwarzer Leder-/Stoff-Kombination (Stoff „Speed“) verfügen über je eine elektrische Lendenwirbelstütze. Die Bedienelemente wie das 3-Speichen-Sportlenkrad und der Schalthebelknauf sind mit gelochtem Leder, Schaltmanschette, Handbremsgriff und Türverkleidungseinsätze mit schwarzem Glattleder bezogen.

Abgerundet wird die exklusive Atmosphäre durch das Kombiinstrument mit titangrauen Zifferblättern, dem Fahrerinformationssystem FIS, mit Auto-Check-Control, einen schwarzen Dachhimmel und einen beleuchteten Make-up-Spiegel. S line-Schriftzüge auf den Schutzleisten der Fondtüren identifizieren diesen dynamischen A2.

Das Sportpaket ist für alle A2-Motorisierungen außer 1.2 TDI für 2500 € bestellbar.


I don't think there's anything to worry about.
 
I think there will be plenty of other versions produved including a Sport version between now and 2005 but Pietschrieder seems quite keen on discontinuing the A2. I doubt that the other versions appearing will neccesarily mean he won't continue to do so.
 
I received this e-mail from the www.just-auto.com site today. Here are some of the highlights.


quote:I understand that the Audi A2 will not be replaced with
a similarly sized aluminium-bodied car when it goes out of
production possibly as early as 2005. Hopefully, the
experience has left Audi with some useful pointers on how
to build aluminium-bodied cars below its flagship A8, as
the long-term stated company aim is to build only
aluminium-bodied cars.

But leaving aside the difficulties associated with
aluminium versus steel (principally cost, but also
infrastructure issues eg body repair), the heavy use of
aluminium by Audi seems to make sense as a brand
differentiator in the context of Audi high-tech and
sporty brand values. And the investment in the aluminium
centre at Neckarsulm can also bring other benefits to
Volkswagen Group. The upcoming small Lamborghini,
codenamed L140 and due to be shown in Geneva in 2003,
will receive final development treatment from Neckarsulm.

But the A2? Smaller and cheaper to buy, but more
expensive to build, than the A3. It also shared few parts
with other Volkswagen Group models and it has
consistently missed its sales targets. A sober lesson for
Audi and Volkswagen. Vehicle manufacturers need to be
very careful in developing premium small cars.
Prestige brands who risk diluting brand image especially
so.
Problematic area: A-class, Smart, Audi A2, BMW
Mini. Thin margins and difficult to make money. Hope
your listening BMW (i.e the upcoming 1 Series).

Not sure I totally agree. In case of the A-Class & Smart I believe it to be relatively successful for Mercedes. In case of the Smart car, I believe the production volumes will increase somewhat next week. It will be a shame if AUDI give up with this class of vehicle. The A2 may have cost them too much due to development, however surely the market is still worth more them in the long term (enviromentally) than targeting the Large A8 sector.

Kaine
 
So the A2 could become a classic sooner than we thought...I can see a new website coming on!

I've always had the impression that the A2 is a loss leader but as you say, hopefully Audi have learnt some lessons from it all.
2001 TDI SE, Open Sky System, 16" six spoke alloys, Kenwood Mask CD.
A2 Owners Club: www.Audi-A2.co.uk
 
I think that the A2 is a classic already. Has anyone come across a stipped back version like the ona above on the right? The firts ever mass produced aluminium car ever, it should be in the design museum already. Imagine when all other classic cars have corroded the A2 will still be here in 3003!

A2 1.6fsi sport climate cd amulet red
 
There are also rumours of a 1.9 TDI 130 bhp version for next year. I hope it really happens, should be fun.

MartinW - Dolphin Grey 1.4SE
 
Not rumour, 19 tdi will happen as will S2. Facelift late in 2003 to accompany introduction of new A3. I believe the 'little tank' will continue for some time.
Do not believe all you read in Autocar. They regularly 'invent' things and get people running to showrooms. OK the new 'z' car from nissan is coming but A*****r would have us believe we would all be driving it early 2002!
B****x.
There are better industry pundits out there!

icon_smile_cool.gif
 
Hmm, not so sure. There have been plenty of other reports about this happening. Why would it come as a suprise? Do you honestly think Audi would continue if the volumes aren't there. The A6 allroad never sold many either and will also die soon.

I've no doubt there will be an S2 and 1.9 TDi but at what cost? £20k for the Tdifor and £25k an S2? Those are hardly going to ignite the market.

I've no reason to distrust Autocar. This one allegedly came from Pietschrieder and as I say it isn't the first time I've read it.
 
I wonder what the facelift will involve?. Fatter lips and door mirrors pulled up?.

Steve - 1.4SE petrol, 2002, Silver
 
The german news article seems to be about the S Line version (which is similar to the UK sport versions) and not an S2.

I really wonder if they would ever release an S2 as the main reason behind scrapping the the A2 is lack of sales due to the cost . What is the point of expensive R&D on a version which will be even more expensive, especially when the market for the S3 will always be greater.

I'd love it if an S2 was on the cards, but think that the sport and S-Line versions are probably a much more sensible approach.

I'm guessing that the facelift will be as with most audi mid life refreshes, and be a few nearly undetectable changes to the lights etc.

Expecting Silver A2 1.6FSI sport, end October.
 
Isn't there something about car manufacturers having to show an improvement in fuel condumption accross the range? i.e. if they have a gas guzzler at the top they need a car which sips fuel at the bottom to cancel it out. Or is that just in the USA?
If it applies in Europe, then presumably that would be a reason to keep the A2 in production.

MartinW - Dolphin Grey 1.4SE
 
No no, the German article explicitly refers to an S-version of the A2, the S2. My German isn't good, but it's close enough to my native language (Dutch) to understand that part. I'm very sure that that is what it says.
 
martinw,

I heard the same information with respect the BMW/Rover tie up, and subsequently why BMW held onto the Mini. Not sure if it was a rumour though.

Kaine
 
I know everybody wants an S2 to be launched (including me), but here is the same press release in English.

------------
Sportier, more expressive, more exclusive – this is the motto behind the new S line sports packages from the Audi subsidiary quattro GmbH.

In the case of the Audi A2 S line, the sports suspension from quattro GmbH makes even more direct contact with the road thanks to its lowering, specially tuned springs and firmer shock absorbers. Four cast aluminium 9-spoke wheels of size 7Jx17 with 205/40 R 17 tires also enhance the appearance of the Audi A2.

A sporty interior is a further prerequisite for a sportier drive. The perfectly fitting sports seats in a combination of black leather/"Speed" cloth each have an electric lumbar support. The control elements, including the 3-spoke sports steering wheel and the gear knob, are trimmed with perforated leather, the gear lever gaiter, handbrake grip and door trim inserts with black smooth leather.

The instrument cluster with titanium-gray dials, the Driver Information System (DIS) with Auto Check Control, a black headlining and an illuminated vanity mirror provide the finishing touches to this exclusive ambience S line emblems on the rubbing strips of the rear doors identify this dynamic A2.

The sports package is available for all A2 versions except the 1.2 TDI and costs € 2500.

------------

:)

Expecting Silver A2 1.6FSI sport, end October.
 
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