Second-gen Audi A2 grows again 14 | 06 | 2012

AUDI HAS BREATHED MORE than new life into its second-generation A2: it's also fed it full of carbs and ensured it spent hours in the gym (see more official photos of the all-new Audi A2).

Due to enter showrooms in 2014, Audi has elevated the new A2 out of the supermini class — where it was originally planned compete — and instead turned it into a Golf-sized hatch.

Shown at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show, in what Audi boss Rupert Stadler described as “near to production-ready form,” the new A2 is set to be built on a bigger version of the VW Group’s MQB platform.

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It's growth in length sees the car expand beyond the 3.8m-long supermini mark and instead move into the 4.1m territory dominated by the Golf.

It's also understood that the new A2 has also grown taller. Whereas the concept was 1490mm high, the production version is believed to have grown a further 60mm to 1550mm.

Why the change in size? Having held a number of 'styling clinics' — which always have the potential to throw a spanner in any designer's work — a lack of load-carrying capacity was highlighted by the public. Audi reacted instantly, and simply increased the size of the production version.

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Jim McGill