Audi has confirmed it is going to finish manufacturing of the A1 hatch and Q2 small SUV in 2026 because it gears as much as launch an entry-level electrical car (EV) that may assist fill the void.
Autocar stories phrase from Audi CEO Gernot Döllner that the 2 automobiles will exit manufacturing subsequent 12 months. It was additionally confirmed there will probably be no direct successor to the A1.
Audi had confirmed again in 2021 the A1 and Q2 wouldn’t be immediately changed on the finish of their lifecycles.
Whereas the brand new EV received’t be a direct successor to both the A1 or Q2, it’ll nonetheless be positioned as what Audi calls an A-segment car. That ought to see it function an electrical various to the A3 hatch and sedan and Q3 crossover.
The British outlet additionally stories the brand new EV will enter manufacturing in 2026 at Audi’s facility at Ingolstadt, Germany, and be the model’s entry-level small EV underneath the This fall e-tron.
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Q2
Technical specs will not be but recognized, although it’s anticipated Audi’s new EV will use a model of the Volkswagen Group’s MEB electrical structure that underpins the This fall e-tron and Chinese language-market Q5 e-tron, in addition to different EVs from Volkswagen, Skoda, and Cupra.
Volkswagen’s new SSP platform received’t be prepared for manufacturing till at the least 2028 (regardless of beforehand being slated for a 2026 debut), that means the upcoming Audi EV will probably miss out.
Talking to Autocar, Mr Döllner mentioned Audi deliberate to proceed to capitalise on the VW Group’s shared operations in growing new entry fashions.
“A extremely optimistic a part of our technique is that within the A-segment, we depend on Volkswagen Group synergies. We use platforms shared with different manufacturers and [integrate] Audi differentiation by way of Quattro and energy and expertise,” he mentioned.
“That technique may be very wholesome and we are going to transfer on with that. That will even be our technique within the battery-electric age.”
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Audi A1
Audi’s new small EV is predicted to carry a extra premium place than among the fashions with which it is going to share its platform, with design and materials selections to level to higher-end Audi automobiles consistent with the model’s latest premium push.
Autocar additionally stories it’s doable Audi might revive the dormant A2 nameplate, final used on a intelligent compact individuals mover that exited manufacturing in 2005.
With a value anticipated to fall in the direction of the excessive £30,000s (A$61,576), Autocar expects the brand new mannequin to be much like the Skoda Elroq in measurement and form.
For context, the Elroq begins at £31,500 (A$64,679) in the UK; whereas the Skoda’s Australian launch is imminent, pricing shouldn’t be but recognized.
The A1 launched in 2010 as each a three-door and five-door hatchback, obtainable with a variety of petrol and diesel engines and front- or all-wheel drive. There was additionally a one-off A1 e-tron constructed to be used as Germany’s Olympic staff automotive in 2012.
It entered its second era in 2018 as a five-door hatchback, and shared a platform with different VW Group automobiles just like the Volkswagen Polo and SEAT Ibiza. The present mannequin prices both $39,200 or $50,800 earlier than on-road prices relying on the variant.
The Q2, in the meantime, has solely been produced in a single era, which entered manufacturing in 2016. It too has petrol and diesel choices, to not point out many shared components with automobiles just like the Volkswagen Golf, Cupra Formentor, and Skoda Karoq.
It additionally gained a sportier SQ2 model in 2019. Present Australian costs vary from $49,400 to $70,800 earlier than on-road prices.
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