UPDATE 3/18/26: Although Audi has already stopped taking A8 sedan orders in Germany, the model appears likely to continue in the U.S. through the 2027 model year. Automotive News reports that CEO Gernot Döllner confirmed A8 production will end for Europe this fall, but will continue for the rest of the world into 2027.
Audi's 2026 product agenda is substantial. The third-generation Q3 recently went on sale in the United States, and the brand has just revealed the 2027 RS5 — now a 630-hp plug-in hybrid four-door hatchback. But there's considerably more on the way. In its recent financial briefing, Audi laid out several additional launches planned for later this year: two large SUVs, a refreshed EV, and an electric revival of one of the brand's quirkiest historical models.
The last of those is the teased silhouette above — the new Audi A2 e-tron. The original A2 never reached U.S. showrooms during its 1999–2005 production run, but it holds a place in automotive history for its unconventional approach. The A2 wasn't a commercial success, but it's remembered for its pioneering use of aluminum construction, which made it remarkably light and — paired with efficient engines — genuinely fuel-stingy.
Audi has confirmed the A2 name is returning on a new EV, scheduled for a fall reveal and set to be built at Audi's home facility in Ingolstadt, Germany. The teaser image reveals proportions that echo the original's tall, compact, hatchback-meets-minivan silhouette, updated with Audi's crisp contemporary LED lighting front and rear.
Audi is promoting "high efficiency" — as befits the A2 legacy — along with "everyday usability in the city" and "digital connectivity." We suspect the A2 e-tron will share its underpinnings with the Volkswagen ID.3, which is due for an update as the ID.3 Neo, though Audi hasn't confirmed technical details. Audi says it's "targeting a broad international customer base," but U.S. availability is unlikely.
More relevant to American buyers is the Q9, an entirely new model slotting above the Q7 as Audi's largest SUV. Audi says the Q9 is "specially tailored to the needs of customers" in the United States. Technical specifics are limited at this stage, but hybrid and gasoline powertrains are expected, with a V-8-powered SQ9 performance variant a strong possibility.
The Q9 will be the range-topper in Audi's SUV family, though the brand's overall flagship position is in flux. Audi has stopped accepting A8 orders in Germany, and the sedan — which competes directly with the Mercedes-Benz S-class — is expected to depart the U.S. market after the 2026 model year.
That exit isn't permanent, however. Motor1 confirmed with Audi that "the decision on an A8 successor has been taken and we intend to present it towards the end of this decade." The form that successor takes is still unknown. Audi once hinted at an A8 replacement with the 2021 Grandsphere concept, which was supposed to spawn an EV internally called the "Landyacht" before the project was cancelled.
Alongside the Q9, Audi will also introduce the third-generation Q7 in 2026 with revised styling and an expected range of gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options. The SQ7 performance version should return as well, possibly carrying a hybridized V-8. Rounding out the year, the Q4 e-tron will receive a refresh with styling tweaks front and rear and potentially revised battery specifications for improved range. Further details on all of Audi's 2026 plans should emerge over the coming months.
