Audi Considering Electric City Car to Take on BMW i3

AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
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is not ruling out building an electric city car based on the Volkswagen UpVolkswagen Up! Gen.1Germany, 2011 > present107 versions
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that would take on the BMW i3BMW i3Germany, 2011 > present12 versions
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. The new model would be even smaller than the A1Audi A1Germany, 2010 > present167 versions
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, Audi’s current entry-level car.

"I can imagine a market for this car in mega cities. If you have a segment that’s big enough, there is always a desire for a luxury product in that segment. But an Audi city car would need to have all the connectivity and luxury of other models,” said Audi technical boss Ulrich Hackenberg.

The car is still several years away and has not been green lit. The major challenge would be conquering the problem of EV range. Hackenberg does not believe that the 130km (81 miles) range of the e-Up would be enough for an Audi.

The other challenge is that Audi is not known as a small car automaker. Luca de Meo, Audi head of marketing, believes that it will take another generation of the A1 before Audi is a legitimate challenger in the market.

"I was the father of the original A2Audi A2Germany, 1999 > 20056 versions
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, but it was not a success. The new A2 is a concept that's still in mind for the future. Let's say I’m a friend of the A2,” said Hackenberg.

Source: Auto Express