Audi is gearing up to introduce the A2 e-tron later this year as their most affordable EV. While we’ve seen numerous prototypes in the past, spy shooters recently caught a lightly covered pre-production model.

More: Audi Confirms The A2 Is Back, Prays It’ll Sell This Time

Looking surprisingly faithful to the MPV that was produced from late 1999 through 2005, the A2 e-tron is an electric hatchback that has a lot in common with the Volkswagen ID.3 Neo. However, it has a unique design that borrows a few cues from crossovers.

Baldauf

While the front end is heavily disguised, we can get a glimpse of a rounded front bumper and a rectangular lower intake. Previous spy photos have also revealed the car will have split lighting units and a fully enclosed grille that echoes the rest of the e-tron lineup.

The profile recalls the classic A2, but with a Sportback vibe. This results in a dynamic greenhouse and a gently sloping roof that terminates at a pronounced spoiler. Designers also gave the model gloss black cladding and aerodynamically optimized wheels. They’re joined by pronounced wheel arches as well as winglet-style door pulls that mirror those found on the BMW X5 and Ford Mustang Mach-E.

Baldauf

There isn’t much to see out back, but we can get a glimpse of the gloss black lower bumper and a peek of the taillights. They’re accompanied by a stylized liftgate with angular accents.

Spy photographers didn’t get close enough for interior pictures, but previous images have shown a familiar cabin that resembles the Q3. This means we can expect an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster as well as a 12.8-inch infotainment system. They’re joined by a flat-bottom steering wheel with a fixed bar that houses the shifter as well as some vehicle controls.

SHProshots

Audi has been coy on performance specifications, but they’ll presumably echo the ID.3 Neo. It features 50, 58, and 79 kWh battery packs that allow for a WLTP range of up to 391 miles (630 km). The Volkswagen also offers motors with 168 hp (125 kW / 170 PS), 188 hp (140 kW / 190 PS), and 228 hp (170 kW / 231 PS).

The A2 e-tron, which is also based on the MEB+ platform, will likely stick to the higher-end powertrains. It’s also worth noting the model may eschew quattro all-wheel drive.

Baldauf

Last year, reports emerged that Audi had decided to kill the RS6 e-tron. This was curious as prototypes were spotted shortly after the car’s rumored demise.

We haven’t heard much about the model since last September, but prototypes were recently spotted near the Nürburgring. It’s reportedly a Performance variant and not a full RS version, which could help to explain reports about its rumored demise.

More: RS6 E-Tron Spotted Testing Even As Rumors Claim Audi Pulled The Plug

Looking decidedly more aggressive than the S6 Sportback e-tron, the model has a unique front bumper with revised intakes that incorporate horizontal slats at the outside edges. They’re joined by vertical air curtains and a familiar honeycomb mesh pattern.

The sporty styling continues further back as the prototype has new front fender vents and sportier side skirts. We can also see sizable wheels that are backed up by a high-performance braking system with red calipers.

Changes to the rear end are less noticeable, but a closer inspection reveals a new bumper and a sportier diffuser. They’re joined by a familiar spoiler that appears to carryover from the standard S6.

SHProshots

The model will be offered in Sportback and Avant body styles, and the latter prototype rides on mismatched wheels. Other than that, it’s largely identical to its sibling.

Spy photographers didn’t get a good look inside, but we can likely expect a familiar cabin with an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.5-inch infotainment system, and an optional 10.9-inch front passenger display. They’ll likely be joined by a flat-bottom steering wheel and sport seats.

SHProshots

Performance specifications remain a mystery, but the S6 e-tron has a 100 kWh battery pack that feeds a dual-motor all-wheel drive system developing up to 543 hp (405 kW / 550 PS). This enables the model to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in as little as 3.7 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 149 mph (240 km/h). The car is also notable for having a 270 kW DC fast charging capability, which takes the battery from 10-80% in around 20 minutes.

The S6 e-tron performance will undoubtedly be more powerful and rumors had suggested the RS6 e-tron could have around 805 hp (600 kW / 816 PS). However, that number seems pretty optimistic if the model isn’t getting the full RS treatment.

SHProshots

Audi has decided the global car is a dead idea. Building a single vehicle engineered to satisfy every market at once no longer adds up, and the company now argues the sharper play is designing separate models for its biggest markets, each shaped around what those buyers actually want.

Rouven Mohr, Audi’s chief technical officer, says no one model can win over shoppers in North America, Europe, and China all at once, which explains why the brand stood up the new AUDI marque in China with SAIC to build cars made specifically for that market. Tastes have simply drifted too far apart for a one-size answer to hold.

Read: Audi’s China Brand Is Cutting Prices And Losing Sales, So It’s Building A Sporty Limo

“I think the idea of the global car – so one car that fits the world – this is gone, to be honest, because it’s not fitting anymore in the US (and) in China,” Mohr told Go Auto. “You need this kind of local-for-local pillar.”

In China, the AUDI brand helps meet the needs of many local consumers who want tech-focused cars akin to smartphones on wheels, while offering the most advanced self-driving systems. By comparison, buyers in Europe appreciate less emphasis on screens and like tactile controls, buttons, and switches. Despite this, Audi continues to roll out its curved digital dashboards across an increasing number of its European models.

Slashing Development Times

No longer focusing on global cars is also allowing Audi to speed up the development of its cars. The automaker says it’s now developing vehicles at “China speed” by establishing “project houses” where development teams have direct access to the board, making approvals much quicker.

This approach has already helped Audi launch the limited-run Nuvolari supercar, created as a spiritual successor to the Audi R8 and launching with the same basic twin-turbo V8 hybrid powertrain as the Lamborghini Temerario. Soon, the company’s fast new development cycles will allow it to launch a production version of the Concept C sports car, which will replace the Audi TT.

The California Highway Patrol’s Truckee branch embraces the lighter side of policing and they’ve gone viral for mocking an Audi e-tron GT owner.

The wayward driver ran out of juice on the highway, so they had to pull over to the side of the road. Instead of getting towed to a nearby charging station, they opted to use a generator to slowly recharge the vehicle.

Review: Driving The 2026 Audi RS e-Tron GT Performance Feels Like Falling Into A Black Hole

That’s less than ideal and the California Highway Patrol joked, “Thoughts and prayers won’t add miles to your battery… but thankfully they brought their own generator.” They also posted an image of the incident set to Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer.

On a more serious note, the highway patrol noted that “Mountain driving, elevation changes, and higher speeds can drain your EV battery much faster than expected.” They went on to encourage visitors to plan ahead, charge up, and leave yourself a little extra range. If you fail to heed their advice, you might end up like this driver and need an “unscheduled stop on the shoulder.”

The 2026 Audi S e-tron GT starts at $127,700 and features a 105 kWh battery pack that feeds a dual-motor all-wheel drive system developing up to 670 hp (500 kW / 679 PS). It enables the model to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 3.3 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 152 mph (245 km/h).

Buyers will also find a respectable range of up to 300 miles (483 km). That wasn’t enough for this driver, but the 320 kW DC fast charging capability can take the battery from 10% to 80% in as little as 18 minutes.

Audi also offers an even more powerful RS e-tron GT performance for $170,500. It has 912 hp (680 kW / 925 PS) and hits 60 mph (96 km/h) in 2.4 seconds. However, the range drops to 278 miles (447 km).