Here’s a surprise for the room, and we’re not just talking about that oh-so happy look on this camouflaged car. For a scant few years in the early 2000s, Audi built a cute little car called the A2. Okay, maybe cute isn’t the right word, but it was small, chunky, and kind of adorable in its own way. Now, we have another cute little car that the CarBuzz spy photographers say is an Audi. Is it a new A2? Perhaps it’s a new Q2, replacing the current model which ends production next year.
Whatever its first name is, the last name will be E-tron and it comes from the house of Audi. And boy is it excited to be on the road. Once you see that open-mouthed grin with those cute squinted eyes, you simply cannot unsee it. Frankly, there are worse-looking prototypes on the road right now. Just ask Ferrari.
Obviously, Audi isn’t sending out press releases telling us about its latest prototype, but the resemblance between this car and the Q4 is unmistakable. The irony is, once all that camo wrap comes off, this smaller crossover probably won’t look nearly as happy as it does now. Audi’s signature grille is on full display here, looking almost identical to the gray/silver patterned grille from the Q4 e-tron. The white/black swirled camo really highlights the grille, flanked by a split headlight design with thin running lamps up high. The effect is a big ol’ smiling face, so enjoy it while it lasts.
How do we know this is an EV? Aside from that solid grille, we’ve pored over these images and can’t see any sort of exhaust exit. It’s always possible something is hidden behind a fascia, but our sources tell us this is a silent runner. Looking at the prototype from the side, it becomes clear just how short that front clip really is. The steeply raked windshield extends almost to the midpoint of the front axle. That doesn’t leave much room for an engine.
If we had to guess – and right now we obviously do – we’d say this is going to be a new Q2. Aside from the resemblance at the front, we clearly see some body lines curving over the wheel arches. The camouflage conforms to them, suggesting some prominent fender trim pieces are underneath. There’s also some flaring taking place, and we don’t think this is due to some false panels.
We do think there’s some trickery at the back, though. What looks like visible taillights is largely a sticker. There does appear to be a solid red strip connecting the corner lights, and a portion of the taillights are visible. But we’re only seeing a small rectangular section of them. The embellishments that look like light housings appear to be stickers on the camo.
With this being our first sighting, we don’t have much information to go on. Our sources say it’s based on VW Group’s new MEB+ platform, which is a dedicated setup for EVs. In this case, we’re expecting Audi to run a single motor turning the front wheels only. That fits with this car’s mission of being a smaller, entry-level EV at a lower price point, though it’s worth noting the platform is capable of a rear motor for rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.
Keeping things on the small side with a single-motor drivetrain, the MEB+ architecture should support LFP batteries. As such, the Q2/A2 could offer quite a bit of range, starting around 300 miles and topping 400 miles, depending on the battery size. MEB+ is the same platform that will underpin Volkswagen EVs.
Aside from the testing equipment on the wheels, this prototype doesn’t appear to be too far from production. Whether it’s called A2, Q2, or something else entirely, we’re expecting this new Audi to debut in 2026.
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