(Images: Audi) Audi is charging ahead with major updates and expansions at both ends of its lineup, large and small.
It’s another interesting and frankly weird year for the car industry, as we’re seeing various players either move ahead with EV development or make a hard (and ludicrously expensive) pivot away from formerly much-hyped models. Audi is still in the former camp, it seems, as its recent financial update revealed new products coming down the line. Some of those products include internal combustion SUVs, sure, but it also includes a revamped version of an existing EV and, get this, a new electric A2 e-tron.
The original (2000-2005) Audi A2.
Now, most folks here in the U.S. probably don’t know or remember the tiny A2, since the smallest Audi we’ve ever seen was (and continues to be) the A3. Nevertheless, Europeans know this innovative and quirky little hatchback all too well, as it was originally available between 2000 and 2005.
The new model teased as a silhouette above brings a subcompact back into the fold, while taking it into the all-electric space. “With the new A2 e-tron, Audi is targeting a broad international customer base that values everyday usability in the city, sustainability, high efficiency, and digital connectivity,” the company says in its statement Tuesday teasing the car. Audi will build this new model in its hometown of Ingolstadt, Germany, but has not revealed much technical information at this point in time.
Basically, what we’re looking at here seems to be an Audi-fied version of the Volkswagen ID.3 hatchback, catering to a broadly European audience with a few other choice markets in mind. That said, Americans don’t really get down with small cars all too well, so I wouldn’t expect to see an A2 e-tron hit our shores, especially in light of auto-related tariffs, unless Audi has some plan out of left field we’ve yet to see coming.
Alongside a new Q7, Audi is also planning a new flagship SUV above it in the lineup, imaginatively called the Q9. Audi’s U.S. game plan largely focuses on SUVs, at least for now.
While Americans aren’t too interested in small hatchbacks, by and large, we love our SUVs. The folks over at Audi are keenly aware of that, which is why we will see a third-generation Q7 make a formal debut this year. Audi’s current three-row SUV recently saw a refresh for the 2025 model year, but that’s mainly been to tide buyers over until the full overhaul hits the scene. We should get more information on the new Q7, including a mix of gas and hybrid powertrains, in the near future.
There’s another SUV in the works that will position itself above the Q7, however. That’s the Q9, which Audi notes will be “spcifically tailored to the needs of customers in the world’s second-largest automotive market”. Again, we’ve yet to see many formal details, but expect gas models to dominate the lineup, with some hybrid options opening up as well. A more powerful SQ9 variant isn’t necessarily a lock, but I wouldn’t be surprised whatsoever to see one emerge, much the same as we get with every other Audi SUV like the SQ7 and SQ8.
Finally, Audi isn’t turning attention away from its existing Q4 e-tron SUV, either. A “reimagined” version will emerge this year, and that’s a good thing…because the original version wasn’t exactly a smash hit. You see them from time to time, but lackluster sales coupled with the ability to pick up even lightly used Q4s for around $30,000 signify the need to make some changes.
Audi has already kicked off its busy year with the new Q3, while it’s also planning a revamped RS5 in this year’s lineup too. With the new SUVs on the horizon, there’s still plenty in store we’ll have to keep an eye on, so stay tuned.
