Frankfurt Live: Audi A2 and Urban Concept Spyder

Audi demonstrated their push towards futuristic models today at their 2011 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show booth. Both the A2 and Urban concepts had looked extremely promising on paper, where the whole automotive world had been closely following any developments.

I'm pleased to say that in the flesh, the A2 concept managed to make one heck of a transition and looks like a fantastic bump up from the already-in-production A1.

With the large 4 ring logo and sweeping roofline, the A2 concept is almost instantly recognisable as an Audi. The headlights too seem to be iterations from those seen on today's roads. The A2 is set to be an all-electric vehicle (ah, such is the trend these days) but Audi allowed their designers to go overboard especially with the interior which features a larger-than-life steering wheel plus usual techno gadgets designed to make auto journalists pee their pants with excitement.

We also managed to get a look at the Audi Urban Concept. It turns out that the shift from sketch to physicality has seen this concept lose its roof to create a spyder. Again the concept demonstrates Audi's push towards electric-drive and clean engineering and thus drive is reported to come from a pair of electric motors and battery pack.

More bizarre is the fact that this is a 1000 pound open-wheel pod racer. Further, the Urban Concept Spyder is a 1+1; in manufacturer talk this means that the car is designed primarily for the driver with room for a "significant other" to help keep your ego and heavy-right foot in line.

Audi have promised us a hardtop "Sportback" version too which should be interesting to see in flesh. Either way, Audi seem to be gunning towards the future with their trademark "head-turning" design motif still being exercised and something fantastic to see in their rather large hall in Frankfurt.