I have owned an A2 since 2000 when it was first launched.
Despite two initial gremlins (hatch closing mechanism not great and electronics not properly sorted), the car has been fantastic. I am in awe of Audi's build quality and cabin design. There's nothing else to touch it. Moreover, the fuel economy is simply staggering, even with the petrol version.
In short, the A2 was always a better car than the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Clever. Classy. Well-engineered. My wife loves it. We use it for long journeys although it is at its best in London. Audi is to be congratulated for producing such an excellent little car.
So imagine my disappointment when I heard that Audi will not be replacing it. The reason, as far as I can make out, is that its Aluminium space frame chassis and body is expensive to make which means that Audi needs to charge a higher price than competitors do for similar types of cars. As a result, A2 hasn't sold in sufficient numbers to justify investment in a follow-up model.
This decsion IMHO flies in the face of VORSPRUNG DURCH TEHNICH and smacks of BEANCOUNTER-DRIVEN MARKETING DRIVEL. Without a replacement model, Audi is leaving this segment to Mercedes-Benz with the new A-Class. Moreover, I feel extremely cynical about the A3. It is simply a rebodied Golf with a better badge sold at a higher price. Yes it goes well. But I would feel a real plonker for paying so much more for a car I could have otherwise bought for less. Moreover, the A3 makes Golf customers feel short-changed, because it has a lower specification.
Platform-sharing badge-engineering benefits neither brand in the long-term. It simply creates product overlap that dilutes both brands. So, I'd like to see a new A2 Mr Winterkorn. I'd like it to have all the space efficency and economy of the mini-monopsace category but all the premium quality and driver appeal of an Audi.
The Mini shows that premium-priced small cars are viable.
Despite two initial gremlins (hatch closing mechanism not great and electronics not properly sorted), the car has been fantastic. I am in awe of Audi's build quality and cabin design. There's nothing else to touch it. Moreover, the fuel economy is simply staggering, even with the petrol version.
In short, the A2 was always a better car than the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Clever. Classy. Well-engineered. My wife loves it. We use it for long journeys although it is at its best in London. Audi is to be congratulated for producing such an excellent little car.
So imagine my disappointment when I heard that Audi will not be replacing it. The reason, as far as I can make out, is that its Aluminium space frame chassis and body is expensive to make which means that Audi needs to charge a higher price than competitors do for similar types of cars. As a result, A2 hasn't sold in sufficient numbers to justify investment in a follow-up model.
This decsion IMHO flies in the face of VORSPRUNG DURCH TEHNICH and smacks of BEANCOUNTER-DRIVEN MARKETING DRIVEL. Without a replacement model, Audi is leaving this segment to Mercedes-Benz with the new A-Class. Moreover, I feel extremely cynical about the A3. It is simply a rebodied Golf with a better badge sold at a higher price. Yes it goes well. But I would feel a real plonker for paying so much more for a car I could have otherwise bought for less. Moreover, the A3 makes Golf customers feel short-changed, because it has a lower specification.
Platform-sharing badge-engineering benefits neither brand in the long-term. It simply creates product overlap that dilutes both brands. So, I'd like to see a new A2 Mr Winterkorn. I'd like it to have all the space efficency and economy of the mini-monopsace category but all the premium quality and driver appeal of an Audi.
The Mini shows that premium-priced small cars are viable.
