New Audi A2 to be low CO2 specialist
When Audi introduced their first generation A2 in 1999, it was designed as highly efficient but premium small car with an aluminum space frame structure. Unfortunately the car was expensive and never sold well. For 2009 they are taking another crack at an entry level model but this time the new A2 will be more basic.
The next generation A2 is expected to share VW's subcompact platform with the Polo with a mix of gas and diesel engines. The A2 which will be built at the Brussels Belgium plant that Audi recently took over and will be Audi's low CO2 leader to help offset the likes of the A8 and RS6. If the new CAFE rules go into effect we will probably see the A2 stateside eventually.
[Source: Motor Trend]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tony Welsh 9:00AM (1/29/2008)
The remark about aluminium vs steel is i think rather dated. I have never known a car built after about 1980 rust. My present car is 16 years old and made of steel and not even the slightest trace of rust. I bought a Lancia in 1980 and almost immediately chipped the paint down to what looked like steel but I guess was galvanized. Ten years later it looked the same, just a chip in the paint.
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Arthur Embleton 2:25PM (7/03/2007)
It's a shame that it won't be aluminium as like other cars it will end up rusting after 15 years or so. As the manufacturing of a car requires a large amount of energy, it might be better for the environment to go back to the old A2, and have an aluminium car.
The old A2 TDI emitted just 116g/km, which is not too bad.
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Karkus 3:25PM (7/03/2007)
It's nice to see Audi come out with a low CO2 A2 again. Based on other websites, however, it won't have the large interior volume of the nice but discontinued A2 pictured above.
As to the Al vs steel issue, I believe the fuel savings from Al's lower weight would be more significant that any benefits gained by not rusting.
In principle, I like Al for weight savings, but there are a couple of issues with Al.
1) I have an Al hood car, and it got dented by relatively small hail, whereas our steel hood car didn't.
2) It takes way more energy to produce Al from ore that steel. Only in the recycled form does it win slightly over steel (see below) so you would have to recycle it many times before you would come out ahead.
From http://www.allbusiness.com/primary-metal-manufacturing/alumina-aluminum/328744-1.html
On both a mass and volume basis, it takes around four-times more energy to produce primary aluminium than iron. However, when made from scrap, it takes less energy to produce aluminium on a volume basis and about equal amounts on a mass basis.
As for it coming to the US - I'm guessing that the new CAFE rules will be so watered down that it won't force any European company to go through the trouble of adapting small cars for the US safety and emissions standards.
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mirko 5:28PM (7/07/2007)
The interesting fact about the A2 is that the 1.2 TDI model got 80 mpg.
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