Audi A2

The Audi A2 was developed in the late 1990s as a compact car, designed for both efficiency and everyday use. Its key feature was a lightweight aluminium spaceframe, combined with a streamlined body shape, which significantly reduced fuel consumption. A range of engines were used, the 1.2 TDI 3L being the most efficient, and capable of returning fuel consumption figures of 94mpg, or 3 Litres/100km.  The A2 was one of the earliest pioneers of the concept of prioritising fuel efficiency through a lightweight and aerodynamic design in a car intended for mass production.

This Audi A2 model was Audi’s first wind-tunnel model used for aerodynamic developement in 1998-99. The round stickers on the surface served as reference points for creating 3D models using photogrammetry, as fully digital CAD design of the car’s outer skin was not possible at the time. A strip of aluminium tape marks the centre line, allowing one side to be mirrored for more efficient analysis. As Audi did not introduce this measurement approach until 2003, it is likely that the model was reused at a later date.