We’ve received renderings of the upcoming Audi city car based on the Volkswagen Up! concept car. As we’ve previously mentioned, Audi engineers and designers have been given the green light to produce a super-efficient small car that, at least in spirit, replaces the discontinued, slow-selling A2 city car. The unnamed Audi would go up against the new Ford Ka and the Fiat 500.
Audi’s new small car should be capable of 95 mpg and fewer than 100 g/km, according to Auto Express, which would put the car in the lowest possible tax brackets in Europe. Engines are speculated to be a pair of two-cylinder, 600cc turbocharged units, one powered by diesel and the other by unleaded. An all-electric version has already been given the go-ahead.
We expect the city car to be front-wheel-drive and front-engined, unlike the smaller Smart ForTwo. Initially, sales in North America aren’t very likely, though Audi might test the waters in Canada – a market prone to purchase small cars – and then import the car to the United States. But this is all unconfirmed speculation.
In these renderings, the Audi design cues are obvious. The city car does feature a heavily raked front windshield and a large c-pillar. The hood is tall to cover the engine as well as to meet strict European pedestrian safety requirements.
10/30, 4:36 PM
posted by:
A4
americans are too dumb to use both diesel and gas
this thing is sweet though
10/30, 4:39 PM
posted by:
darx_ider
A4
I could not say any better
10/30, 4:42 PM
posted by:
IGC
Audi used to build eye-catching glamorous cars… why did they stop trying?
10/30, 5:34 PM
posted by:
edgeguy
I would totally buy this thing.
10/30, 5:42 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
“…test the waters in Canada – a market prone to purchase small cars”.
Actually we’re more prone to taking a puck in the teeth, but fortunately the beer’s stronger that’s why you don’t hear much about it.
10/30, 6:04 PM
posted by:
A4
audi never built eye-catching glamourous cars… they always built conservative yet stylish cars that flew under the radar and packed a good punch. Audi built “sleepers”. If anything their newest designs with the trapezoidal grille are the most “eye catching”
10/30, 6:56 PM
posted by:
Gundy
95 mpg? Audi quality materials and safety systems? I’d buy one tomorrow. If a 6′-5″ person could fit in the driver’s seat that is.
10/30, 7:49 PM
posted by:
TomF
I’ll take one of those little deals, for sure. Of course, I’d take a Ford Ka or a Fiat 500 also. I will not be purchasing a Chevy Cruze (when they become available for preorder in 2023).
10/30, 9:08 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
Touché to both answer A4.
10/30, 10:32 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
“We expect the city car to be front-wheel-drive ….” There’s a shock.
10/31, 9:30 AM
posted by:
fan
expect to fit tall people especially well into it… if its in any way like a smart (which could be its toughest rival) expect gobs and gobs fo space… first time i sat in a smart, i felt rather like a small kid in a big sedan, rather than the 6′ guy i really am…
and this Audi really looks like its even taller than the smart (heightwise), so, like i said, expect plenty of room..
10/31, 9:43 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
I think the front end could be a bit more chizeled and aggressive, but otherwise this thing is totally cool. Oh wait, I’m American … marketers say that I don’t like little cars. What the hell was I thinking?
10/31, 8:31 PM
posted by:
Gundy
HA, yeah Mayor, you should drive a Ford Excursion like the rest of Americans do.. Even though gas is $2.09 in Mpls, MN today, it WILL be $4+ again in the near future. Small vehicles are here to stay, as “un-manly” as they may seem to folks that would rather drive a truck / SUV / big car.
10/31, 8:32 PM
posted by:
Gundy
… son of… I mean Mayer, sorry about that.