Audi has officially confirmed plans for a lightweight, all-electric successor to the A2 – six years after the pioneering first generation model ceased production.

At the upcoming 2011 Frankfurt auto show, Audi will lift the covers off a new pure-electric concept study that revives the name of long gone A2.

The original model was a small MPV built from 1999 to 2005 that was way ahead of its time in several ways, but what made it truly unique was that it was manufactured entirely out of aluminum.

The new A2 concept is, however, a different car - and a very confused one at that. First of all, it’s a five-door hatchback but it's actually smaller in size than the three-door A1 measuring just 3.80 meters (12.47 ft) long, 1.69 meters (5.54 ft) wide and 1.49 meters (4.89 ft) tall. In comparison, the A2 is 3.95 meters long, 1.74 meters wide and 1.42 meters tall.

At this stage, Audi has not revealed many technical details on the A2 Concept, but it is believed that the car is based on a shortened version of the A1's platform.

The German automaker says that the A2 offers "plenty of room for four people" and that it features flat interior floorboard. There are four individual seats, with the center console attached to the driver’s seat and the rear console extending forward between the two rear seats. The load area has two levels with a frame creating the upper level.

The only piece of information we get about the drivetrain from Audi is that the A2 Concept sports a "powerful electric drive system for agile performance and long range".

And what does the future hold for the A2? Well, at last year's Geneva Salon, Audi execs hinted at the A2 but noted that if the company were to produce such a model, it would be offered with both conventional and electric powertrains.

We'll find out more about the A2 at the rapidly approaching Frankfurt Motor Show.



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Even before the car’s official debut at the 2011 IAA, Porsche launched the online configurator for the new generation 911.

That gives you enough time until the order books open to fiddle with it and come up with your perfect new 911. This new customizer is rather complete, with options even for the wheel caps and spacers.

The 2012 911 is offered with five different wheel designs, and a long list of equipments and features. A loaded new 911, not even a Carrera S, can easily cost over 100 grand. So be careful what options you pick.

___________Click HERE to build your own 911 on the configurator



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German tuner Abt Sportsline has a new tuning package for the Audi RS3.

Power boosting on the 2.5 liter TFSI unit comes in two stages, with the first bump being a substantial 80 horsepower over the series 340 PS (250 kW / 335 bhp) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque for a new output level of 420 PS (309 kW / 414 bhp).

Abt Sportsline goes even further with an output offering 470 PS (346 kW / 464 bhp) and 630 Nm (465 lb-ft) of torque.

Both editions also get their V-max limiter lifted to 285 km/h (177 mph).

The tuner offers various 19-inch light-alloy rims on the RS3, wrapped in tires sized 255/30R19 for the front wheels and 225/35R19 at the back.



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Volkswagen is outlining its vision for personal urban mobility in 2030 with this one-seat electric car concept for this month's Frankfurt motor show.

Despite some outlandish concept car features and futuristic looks, VW insists the Volkswagen NILS concept is “anything but a dry-run exercise” and is a “very realistic proposition” for a commuter car in 2030.

It is the result of extensive analysis from VW’s ‘Group Research’ department, which serves all VW Group brands. For NILS, it looked into likely future individual transportation trends and discovered “very target group specific requirements” would be placed on cars, hence why NILS is so focused towards a very particular market.

The NILS is based around a Formula 1-style layout (driver in middle, powertrain in rear) and an aluminium spaceframe that contributes to a weight of just 460kg. A one-seat layout was chosen as almost 90 per cent of commuters who travel by car do so without any passengers.

At 3040mm long, 1390mm wide and 1200mm high, the NILS is 500mm shorter, 250mm narrower and 280mm lower than VW’s current smallest car, the new three-door Up. Despite its compact dimensions, VW insists the NILS meets all contemporary safety requirements.

Standout design features include freestanding outboard 17-inch aluminium wheels and a pair of dramatic glass ‘wing doors’ that are claimed to allow for easy access in even the tightest of spaces. Above the rear powertrain is a “practical bootspace” that can stow small loads.

A small 34bhp/96lb ft electric motor drives the rear wheels and it is powered by a “relatively inexpensive” 5.3kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which offers a maximum range of 40miles. It can get from 0-62mph in 11sec and reach a top speed of 81mph. A full recharge of the battery pack takes two hours and VW says lessons from its XL1 concept from earlier this year have influenced the development of the electric motor.

The NILS does without power steering due to its low kerb weight and VW claims sit “drives like a sports car” due to its low weight and steering feel. Double-wishbone suspension features front and rear.

VW’s sister firm Audi will also have its Urban Concept at Frankfurt, a two-seater urban commuter car that, although similar in appearance and concept to the NILS, is claimed to have been developed independently.



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