MYTH BUSTER
Debunking the most common old wives’ tales
AUDI A2
1 YOU CAN’T OPEN THE BONNET
The A2’s ‘Serviceklappe’ – a small front hatch that affords access to the dipstick plus the oil and screenwash fillers – has led to the belief that the bonnet is sealed, something perpetuated by US motoring magazine Car and Driver, which said that the feature ‘may foretell the future – the sealed hood.’ In reality, the lightweight bonnet can be undone via two locking catches and lifted off completely.
2 IT PIONEERED AUDI’S ALUMINIUM CONSTRUCTION
Another notable aspect of the A2 was that it was mainly aluminium, including the spaceframe; there’s hardly any steel. It’s considered a pioneering car because of this, and it largely was for a mass-market small vehicle. But Audi had done something similar four years before, for the (albeit much more expensive) A8.
3 IT HAD AMAZING FUEL CONSUMPTION
Yes, it did – its slippery shape and all that lightweight aluminium did wonders for mpg. But the oft-quoted 94.2mpg only related to the diesel 3L, with an auto ‘box, stop-start system, reduced power and narrow tyres. It was around 47mpg on petrol models and 66mpg on other diesels. Slightly less impressive…
4 AUDI WOULD RATHER FORGET IT
The A2 wasn’t a great success, and there’s an impression that Audi would rather sweep the whole episode under the carpet. That said, it did come up with an electric A2 concept vehicle with very similar styling in 2011, six years after production of the original A2 ended, but that was cancelled in 2012.