Audi Planning Micro Electric City Car

The Interwebs are abuzz with talk of Audi planning a city car along the likes of BMW's Microcar and Benz's Smart fortwo. Unlike the BMW, which will offer both gasoline and electric versions, and the Smart, which offers only gasoline for the moment, we've solely heard of electric propulsion for Audi's city car. WorldCarFans came across the news from the UK's CAR Magazine; the blurbs are interesting but not surprising in this age of unstable fuel prices and, some say, potential worldwide recession. We do know that Audi will be sporting some concept vehicles at the upcoming Paris Auto Show, and perhaps this city car will be one of them.

Also, a vehicle dubbed A1 is slated to begin production in 2010, expected to take on the likes of the MINI Cooper in size, style, and performance. An A1 Cabrio is planned, but unlike the MINI convertible, according to Autoblog, the cabrio will dispense with vestigial rear seats, and will have a power-folding mechanism that tucks neatly away unlike the MINI's stacked-cloth top.

Performance for the so-called A1 might well be provided by VW's cool TFSI (twin-charged: both super- and turbocharged) 1.4-liter gasoline engine mated to Audi's excellent DSG dual clutch automated manual. TheCarConnection.com heads to Paris soon--stay tuned for all the details on show cars and concepts as they emerge.--Colin Mathews