Test drive Audi A2 1999 - 2005 Minivan

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The production of small vehicles of increased capacity were the first to have to master the Japanese - back in the mid -80s. But they sold them only in their own, domestic market. By the beginning of the 90s, the overpopulation of the cities began to significantly affect in Europe. It was then that the Europeans recalled about Japanese experience, uniting micro-lines and mini-wen into a single whole. Only the name of the new class of cars has not yet been invented ...

 

In Europe, the first swallow was Mercedes-Benz A-class, which is excellent demand: the plant where the car is made is at full capacity. In 1997, sales of Hyundai Atos began (in class, of course, not Mercedes, but by the concept of the salon is close). The General Motors Corporation in the spring of 2000 showed the next generation of Suzuki Wagon R+ - for Europe, called Opel Agila. Well, and the car to which this article is dedicated, Audi A2, entered the market last summer. He got to Russia to winter ...

 

Audi A2, whose debut took place at the 1999 Frankfurt Auto Show, is almost a copy of the Audi AL2 concept shown two years earlier. At that time, few believed that a super -expensive project of a super -technological car with a spatial frame and body body panels would turn into a serial release. However, here it is, the smallest Audi, stands in the cabin of the Moscow dealer.

 

A2, just like Audi TT, in the spirit of which is worked out, looks even less alive than in photographs. The length is 3825 mm - almost 250 mm more than that of Mercedes A -class, while the weight is 200 kg less - the machine is aluminum. But only four accommodates Audi - against five in Mercedes, which is 45 mm wider.

 

With modest dimensions, the body looks massive, which hides the true size of the wheels - 15 inches. The kinship with TT, giving A2 a certain steepness, is evident - the same wheel arches, the same massive sidewall of great curvature, headlights and even door handles. The impression is enhanced by a roll, a completely glass roof without visible crossbars and with tapering side glasses.

 

The usual excellent quality of the manufacture of body panels and their fitting is perfectly uniform gaps, clear and correct glare for Audi. Plus, well -developed aerodynamics: CX \u003d 0.28 is the best indicator in the class. Is the car beautiful? Opinions on this subject will probably disperse. But the fact that the Audi A2 has an extraordinary design and is 100% recognizable is undoubtedly ...

 

The doors are unlocking when the alarm is turned off from the remote control, built into the ignition key. A large door is convenient access to the salon. The floor level is quite high, so I sit down, practically without crouching. I’m sitting high, I look far away - visibility is good, almost like in an SUV.

 

Powerful racks, which you pay attention to the outside, seem thicker from the inside. They somewhat eat the inner volume, but the salon is spacious enough to feel comfortable even in chubby winter clothes. Light and breathes easily - largely due to the large area of \u200b\u200bglazing and light gray upholstery. Family feature Audi/Volkswagen: a simple, strict interior with a minimum decor. The finish used materials pleasant to the touch. Several aluminum elements unobtrusively remind of the main dignity of A2 ...

 

It is very simple to fit the workplace for yourself. The seat has three ordinary mechanical adjustments - longitudinal, vertical and angle of inclination of the back. The steering wheel is adjustable along the length of the column and the angle of inclination. GPP lever - exactly where necessary. The location of the pedals is optimal. On the dashboard, a standard set is a speedometer with a digital odometer, a tachometer with a clock, coolant temperature indicators and fuel levels in the tank. On the central console are located in black in the block the head structure of the standard stereo system and the air conditioner control panel. Above - two drawers, the other two are on the back of the glove box cover, which still has a separate box for trifles. There are pockets in the doorway and in the lower part of the central console, as well as the cavity on the front panel in front of the passenger for large things. Sunscreen visors are equipped with backlight mirrors.

 

The rear seat is designed strictly for two. They will not be closely in the shoulders, the legs are quite enough due to the design of the floor - in the rear of the car it is lower than in the front. But my head (height is 1.85 m) rests on the ceiling. It's a pity - the roof liked the roof so ...

 

The fifth door opens with a touch button above the license plate. The trunk is small, but equipped with a double floor, which will provide an even surface with folded or removed rear seats. At the third level, tools are stored, the battery is also placed there. Spare wheel (doktka) - option.

 

The usual lever near Torpedo did not free the hood at all, but the panel at the site of the false radiator grille, which opens access to the so -called service module. There are an oil probe and two necks, where oil and liquid for the glass gunner are poured. (Some take the bright yellow -orange ring of the probe for an additional hood lock - and pull it stronger ...) The hood does not open at all, since there is no need to climb under it, and when servicing the engine, the hood is removed in the workshop ...

 

A working engine is almost not heard, vibrations are not felt either on the floor or on the controls. A 1.4 liter motor is quite burdened on the bottom. The power is small (75 hp), but it is enough to give A2 sufficient dynamism - 900 kg of weight. I liked the work of five -speed checkpoints, the programs are easily and clearly.

 

In the motion, it immediately became clear that the flirty spoiler in the back of the roof prevents the review - not too much, but still. But this is a purely decorative element. The snow trail rising behind the machine turned and licked the vertical part of the rear window in the most unambiguous way - would all the dirt fly on it in rainy weather? After all, there is no janitor there ...

 

Snow with ice and summer rubber is not the best combination for evaluating the behavior of the car. But auxiliary electronic systems showed themselves very clearly, which in this baby is plenty of.

 

APS very effectively prevents the slipping of the drive wheels by reducing the engine power while brakeing the roller wheel, which is accompanied by clasping the pads and a slight scrolling of the machine during acceleration. In the prevailing weather-response conditions, the APS activation signal lamp lit up almost every gas pedal. But the system can be disabled, which you had to do when the car was hopelessly bogged down in the snow rut. Simple buildup helped to rescue it, which is impossible when working APS.

 

Brakes are pleasant in work - both in effect and in effectiveness. The actions of the ABS and the electronic system of distribution of brake efforts are well coordinated - even with intense braking in the snow, the machine is controlled and the given path follows.

 

The ESP stabilization system is very useful. The meaning of her work is to overcome the demolition or the absence of the axes of the car by controlling the traction and inhibition. If the destination of the front axis out of the turn occurs, the system drops the gas and brakes the inner rear wheel, creating an additional moment of rotation, thereby arguing the car around the vertical axis and helping it fit into the turn almost without the participation of the driver. And when entering the rear axle, the ESP slows the outer front wheel, thus creating the reverse moment of rotation.

 

The system assesses the situation using the speed sensors and the angle of the steering position, the size of the lateral accelerations and the corner of the car rotation around the vertical axis is a sort of electronic vestibular apparatus. At first, the apparent thoughtfulness is scared - the moments for which the ESP processes the data of the sensors in a critical situation seem to be eternity. Realizing what's what, the system quickly slows down the right wheel, and the car returns sharply to a given trajectory. But what the electronics cannot cope with is with the sensitivity of A2 to the gusts of wind and air flows from oncoming trucks - at high speeds the driver should be more closely.

 

A2 suspension has almost sports rigidity. The car is pretty shaking at bumps, and after a while it begins to annoy. Not the good of comfort and low -profile tires. Perhaps on a smooth highway, the car would behave differently, but where in winter you will find it, a smooth highway? Yes, and the expediency of distant movements on A2 is in doubt - just look at the volume of the gas tank ...

 

What awaits Audi A2 in our market? You can judge by the successes of the Mercedes A-class, which last year about 40 were sold. For whom is A2 intended? For the most part for women, as a diet, a bright and stylish car, and at the same time quite functional. An important point is the price of about $ 25,000, the Audi A4 costs about the same. But A2 buyers are unlikely to be guided by considerations of practicality and expediency. The image is more important ...

 

Text: Sergey Yakubov
 
 

 

Source: Motor