All-electric A2 concept to star at Frankfurt

A highly-charged atmosphere is guaranteed on the Audi stand at the 2011 Frankfurt Show later this month, where the futuristic A2 concept design study will make its bow.

An elegant profile

The electric A2 is described as: “A premium vehicle for metropolitan areas featuring generous amounts of space and composed road manners.” At just 3.8 metres long, 1.69 metres wide and 1.49 metres high, it has a compact yet elegant and sporty presence. The opaque glass roof, finished in flat electric white, can be made transparent at the push of a button. When darkened, it blocks out infra-red light almost completely, making the interior comfortably shady. This helps manage internal temperature.

The A2’s profile is typically Audi, with a low ‘greenhouse’ and early-sloping roof line, which ends in a long rear spoiler. Just below the tornado line is one of the A2’s distinctive features – a dynamic band of light that connects the headlights with the tail lights.

In stand-by mode, the band appears black. When the owner approaches, it lights up blue and highlights the door handles, which are set into the band and extend when the driver sweeps a hand over them. The dynamic light is orange when the A2 is in motion. It pulses on the corresponding side when the car is turning. Under braking, a red light pulses along the car’s flank.

The single-frame grille is specially tailored to the car’s electric operation. The upper two-thirds enclose the charging socket and water connection. The lower section houses an air inlet and graphite foam cooling elements.

Interior

Inside, the A2 is light, clean open and spacious, with intuitive controls. The dashboard is split into two sections – the semi-circular section enclosing the driver’s area. Another dynamic light runs around the inside of the cockpit, welcoming the passengers.

An open, shell-like section serves as the steering column. This extends horizontally into the cockpit. On the far end is a seven-inch display flanked by two secondary displays with the speedometer and power meter.

Engine and performance

The A2 is a purely electric vehicle, powered by a lithium-ion battery. The electric motor is mounted transversely in the front of the vehicle. The  motor delivers 85kW (110hp of peak power and 270Nm of torque to the front wheels, via a single-speed transmission. This enables the A2 concept to accelerate from 0 to 62mph in 9.3 seconds. Top speed is limited to 93mph.The car has a range of 124 miles. Charging the battery takes around one and a half hours with 400 volt three-phase current, and about four hours with 230 volt household current. It is also compatible with the new contactless Audi Wireless Charging.

Technology

The concept employs a fantastic range of new, intelligent technologies.  The body is built with Audi’s ultra-lightweight construction and weighs just 1150kg. The car’s steering and brakes are controlled entirely by wire.

Matrix beam LED headlights comprise bundles of small diodes placed one below the other. These operate the high- and low-beams, and can be switched on and off independently to illuminate the road perfectly in any situation. The headlights contain micro-reflectors to allow the lights to be positioned precisely. The tail lights also use matrix beam technology.

To make driving even easier, the A2 has a semi-autonomous driving mode, which is particularly helpful in slow-moving traffic.
The show car also features Bluetooth connectivity, Internet connection via a UTMS module and a WLAN hotspot. Passengers can access the web and drivers benefit from a host of navigation aids.