New A2 Concept Photos
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the grim reeper
A2OC Donor
This one looks like they used an old photoshop photo what they thought it would look like, where we've seen the car with the LED's on the side and been driven. Whereas in the link it still looks like a made up photo and not it driven on the road
Phil
dan_b
A2OC Donor
Looks like the R8 e-tron has been canned now. Thus ends Audi's flirtation with electric cars?
http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/audi-dumps-electric-r8-supercar-plans-20273.aspx
http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/audi-dumps-electric-r8-supercar-plans-20273.aspx
dan_b
A2OC Donor
Apparently Audi are back on the idea of making an ultra-efficient car, but not via the A2 concept presented last year.
http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/new-250mpg-audi-on-the-way/264638
At the end of this article is a clear statement that the 2nd Gen A2 concept as shown at Frankfurt will remain only as a concept.
Meanwhile, BMW continue to plan for a 2013 launch of the i3.
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1080694_bmw-i3-coupe-concept-2012-los-angeles-auto-show
http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/new-250mpg-audi-on-the-way/264638
At the end of this article is a clear statement that the 2nd Gen A2 concept as shown at Frankfurt will remain only as a concept.
Meanwhile, BMW continue to plan for a 2013 launch of the i3.
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1080694_bmw-i3-coupe-concept-2012-los-angeles-auto-show
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Similar info in this weeks Autocar including news of a future diesel hybrid R10 
However it seems sales of EV's have bombed hence Audis' change of direction, no surprise there then! It would appear Renault may have made one of the biggest commercial mistakes in automotive history with their decision to launch an an EV car range, sales in the UK this year do not even reach 1000 units.
However it seems sales of EV's have bombed hence Audis' change of direction, no surprise there then! It would appear Renault may have made one of the biggest commercial mistakes in automotive history with their decision to launch an an EV car range, sales in the UK this year do not even reach 1000 units.
dan_b
A2OC Donor
There's a lady near me with a Renault Twizy - I saw her driving it the other day and she looked miserable, cold and wet - who builds a vehicle with no windows!
I read an article the other day too about the Nissan Leaf - the journalist was trying to drive from London to Birmingham and back in it now that there is a network of FastCharging points set up along the route. He did it - but the round trip took something like 14 hours due to all the stops for charging.
I agree, full battery-EV cars aren't going to be any useful, affordable solution anytime soon. Just wish Audi could do a proper Mk2 A2. They did 100mpg with it 10 years ago FFS. I'm sure with the latest-gen engines, even more lightweight construction solutions and other new aero and rolling reduction tech they could have got it up to the 150mpg mark by now.
I read an article the other day too about the Nissan Leaf - the journalist was trying to drive from London to Birmingham and back in it now that there is a network of FastCharging points set up along the route. He did it - but the round trip took something like 14 hours due to all the stops for charging.
I agree, full battery-EV cars aren't going to be any useful, affordable solution anytime soon. Just wish Audi could do a proper Mk2 A2. They did 100mpg with it 10 years ago FFS. I'm sure with the latest-gen engines, even more lightweight construction solutions and other new aero and rolling reduction tech they could have got it up to the 150mpg mark by now.
John L
A2OC Donor
There is a true glut of electric cars in Norway. Trondheim and Oslo have loads.
The curious point here is that the batteries do not really work well below -20c and so for much of the winter these cars have to be left at home.
My aunt has a Th!nk City and paid a fortune for it yet still uses a Hyundai most of the time as even on the flatter southern ground the Th!nk has such short range.
I hope Audi make a new A2 that is comparitively conventional. Maybe use a standard engine mount and a open computer system to allow the equipment to be upgraded as new technology begins to work.
A more modular A2 would be awesome!
But for now my A2 is a great drive and very cost effective except for the "evil" diesel tax in Norway (£380p/a for an A2 but £200p/a for antything petrol or diesel with particulate filter)
I have written to the department of transport here to ask for a more detailed rational as to why one of the lightest, most efficient cars ever made counts as being more polluting and damaging than a 1982 Dodge Ram or similar.
I think the low axle weight alone must be a huge benefit to the roads.
John
The curious point here is that the batteries do not really work well below -20c and so for much of the winter these cars have to be left at home.
My aunt has a Th!nk City and paid a fortune for it yet still uses a Hyundai most of the time as even on the flatter southern ground the Th!nk has such short range.
I hope Audi make a new A2 that is comparitively conventional. Maybe use a standard engine mount and a open computer system to allow the equipment to be upgraded as new technology begins to work.
A more modular A2 would be awesome!
But for now my A2 is a great drive and very cost effective except for the "evil" diesel tax in Norway (£380p/a for an A2 but £200p/a for antything petrol or diesel with particulate filter)
I have written to the department of transport here to ask for a more detailed rational as to why one of the lightest, most efficient cars ever made counts as being more polluting and damaging than a 1982 Dodge Ram or similar.
I think the low axle weight alone must be a huge benefit to the roads.
John
Skipton01
Admin Team
I don't want to say "Told you so", but I've been slating an all-electric A2 since it was first proposed around 4 years ago. Even an electric range-extender makes no sense as no energy conversion is 100% efficient.
I'm glad that the world seems to have woken up to the obvious failings of electric propulsion and it's good that VAG didn't invest in production lines just yet too.
Glad I bought the TT TDi now. Maybe the diesel hybrid R10 will be an option in 3 years time?
Totally agree Mike, a perfect example of what happens when politicians try and tell us what we should buy and drive. Along with all the other yoghurt knitters who think we will change the world by driving electric vehicles because they are allegedly environmentally friendly. The most environmentally friendly car is an old one.
dan_b
A2OC Donor
Followed a Vauxhall Ampera along the M4 for about 5 miles last night - he was resolutely doing 50MPH in the middle lane! I presume at that speed it's still running on pure electric and not using the range-extender for additional power?
Quite a distinctive looking car and certainly not as fugging ugly as the Prius!
Quite a distinctive looking car and certainly not as fugging ugly as the Prius!
Tsu
Member
Is it time to resurrect this thread?
I don't know what the rhetoric is in the UK, but over here our Taoiseach/Prime Minister has said the sale of petrols & diesels will be banned by 2030, with his first move to discourage people away from them and into EV's being a charge on new and imported diesels and petrols in the latest budget. Those still in existence by then will likely be taxed off the road through punitive charges similar to what @John L is experiencing in Norway, except much worse. As it is I pay over €400 a year in tax to keep my A2 on the road, as the Irish government in their wisdom/greed tax the engine size, not the emissions, as they quite sensibly do in the UK. We have 'The Green Party' to thank for that one, who had a brief stint in government a few years ago, introducing all sorts of ridiculous climate-sympathetic taxes such as this in the process.
The fact that Ireland generates a sizeable amount of the electricity required to power EV's from (high carbon emitting) coal and peat-burning power stations is ignored by those clambering to support such a move. Or that we import a sizeable amount of nuclear-generated power from the UK, which appears in the vague category of 'Net Import' in this.
I'm sure most of you at this stage are aware of how harmful the mining practices for the components of lithium batteries are, which coupled with the carbon footprint required to produce EVs being double that of a combustion engined car it all starts to seem totally daft, until you accept that this is just another global shakedown to relieve us of our hard-earned cash for something we're being convinced we need, and being forced to change to whether we like it or not, despite the hard data that supports the case for maintaining and improving upon existing combustion-engine technology.
As for Hydrogen-powered cars - It was trialled here and then mothballed after only a few articles covering it appeared in the national newspapers, where they basically said 'nice idea, but infrastructure would cost too much'.
What's going on in the UK around all of this? I know congestion charges are being rolled out apace, but are the government also pushing the EV-agenda as vehemently as they are here, or is there little else left for them to discuss other than Brexit?
I don't know what the rhetoric is in the UK, but over here our Taoiseach/Prime Minister has said the sale of petrols & diesels will be banned by 2030, with his first move to discourage people away from them and into EV's being a charge on new and imported diesels and petrols in the latest budget. Those still in existence by then will likely be taxed off the road through punitive charges similar to what @John L is experiencing in Norway, except much worse. As it is I pay over €400 a year in tax to keep my A2 on the road, as the Irish government in their wisdom/greed tax the engine size, not the emissions, as they quite sensibly do in the UK. We have 'The Green Party' to thank for that one, who had a brief stint in government a few years ago, introducing all sorts of ridiculous climate-sympathetic taxes such as this in the process.
The fact that Ireland generates a sizeable amount of the electricity required to power EV's from (high carbon emitting) coal and peat-burning power stations is ignored by those clambering to support such a move. Or that we import a sizeable amount of nuclear-generated power from the UK, which appears in the vague category of 'Net Import' in this.
I'm sure most of you at this stage are aware of how harmful the mining practices for the components of lithium batteries are, which coupled with the carbon footprint required to produce EVs being double that of a combustion engined car it all starts to seem totally daft, until you accept that this is just another global shakedown to relieve us of our hard-earned cash for something we're being convinced we need, and being forced to change to whether we like it or not, despite the hard data that supports the case for maintaining and improving upon existing combustion-engine technology.
As for Hydrogen-powered cars - It was trialled here and then mothballed after only a few articles covering it appeared in the national newspapers, where they basically said 'nice idea, but infrastructure would cost too much'.
What's going on in the UK around all of this? I know congestion charges are being rolled out apace, but are the government also pushing the EV-agenda as vehemently as they are here, or is there little else left for them to discuss other than Brexit?