After a four-year hiatus, Audi’s diminutive A2 city car is reportedly about to make a comeback. This time though, things are going to be done a little differently.

Rather than reprise the all-alloy chassis construction that made the original A2 such an economically unviable car, Audi will instead base the next-gen model on a platform shared with other cars from parent-company Volkwagen’s expansive stable.

But according to Audi’s R&D chief, Michael Dick, that platform won’t be the one used by the upcoming VW Up.

“It’s bigger than the Up — at least as big as the A1, but with a different body style. It will be recognisable as an A2 but very different from the old car.”

The A2 project is currently at the concept stage, and the finished product isn’t expected to hit the market before the end of the year.

What we can expect, however, is a car that preserves the rounded wagonette styling of the original A2 and combines it with either a frugal conventional motor, or an even more eco-friendly electric powertrain.

The electric model is expected to be launched at the same time as the more traditionally-powered A2, however the tradeoff is a slightly extended development schedule.

“We also want to build an electric version straight away. That has consequences. At the moment you think up a car and make it electric afterwards. With that car [the A2], things go the other way around,” said Dick in an interview with Autocar.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on this one.

[Autocar]