2002 Audi A2 SE
2002 Audi A2 – The Ingenious Ingolstadt Experiment, With All the Right Options
In the early 2000s, if you wanted a compact car that quietly disrupted the entire automotive industry, you didn’t look to Ford or Vauxhall. No, you turned your gaze toward Audi—yes, that Audi—the one that had just launched an aluminium bodied, forward thinking hatchback that looked like it had been beamed down from the set of Minority Report.
Enter: the Audi A2. A car so ahead of its time, even Audi didn’t quite know what to do with it. Launched as a premium supermini in an era when few were asking for one, the A2 answered questions most manufacturers hadn’t even thought to ask yet. With its ultra lightweight aluminium space frame, low drag coefficient, and near fanatical dedication to efficiency, it felt more Silicon Valley start up than suburban commuter.
This particular A2, finished in black, was first registered in 2002 and has lived a cared for life under the ownership of genuine A2 enthusiasts. And it shows—not just in the way it’s been kept, but in the way it’s been specified.
Start with the seating. No humdrum pews here: this 77k mile A2 features the rare and desirable sports seat option, offering a snug, supportive driving position that suits the car’s surprisingly spirited handling. In the back, you’ll find the optional rear bench seat, replacing the more common twin seat setup and making this one of the more practical A2s out there—without compromising its clever design.
Then there’s the Open Sky sunroof, a panoramic glass roof that, when new, brought light and air into the cabin in dramatic fashion. While it’s currently inoperative (a known Achilles’ heel of the system), it still adds visual appeal and a sense of occasion from inside.
You’ll also find electric windows front and rear, heated front seats, and a surprisingly generous equipment list for a car of its era. Think less “early noughties economy car” and more “miniature executive hatch.”
It’s had previous servicing by Audi too, something increasingly hard to find on early A2s, many of which have fallen into the wrong hands. Not this one. It’s been kept well, appreciated for what it is, and preserved rather than merely driven.
Under the bonnet lies a peppy 1.4 litre petrol engine, eager enough for urban darting, yet sedate enough to make you feel rather smug at the pump. Paired with the car’s featherweight construction, it delivers a driving experience that’s far more engaging than you might expect, and all while sipping fuel like it's 2002.
In hindsight, the A2 wasn’t just clever. It was prophetic. In a world now dominated by lightweight materials, clever packaging, and electrified efficiency, Audi’s curious aluminium egg suddenly looks less like an oddity and more like an origin story.
If you’re in the market for something practical, rare, efficient, and genuinely interesting, this might just be the car for you. A brilliant example of Audi engineering at its most experimental, with just the right mix of options, history, and care.
As with all our vehicles, an entire digital folder is available upon request and contains more images, walk-around videos, and scans of the service history. The car can also be viewed by appointment at our West London showroom.