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CONCEPTCAR: Audi's urban vision

- Is this Audi's riposte to the BMW i3?

Germans are normally known to have big egos. And now the BMW has already made it known that it will showcase its future city car in Frankfurt next month, Audi is certainly not leaving the floor to its archrival.

What you see here are official sketches of Audi's Urban Concept experimental vehicle before it is shown in metal at the world's biggest motor show in Germany.

- Is this for real, man?

Nah, we doubt it, even though Audi has done some radical things in the past, like with the aluminium-bodied A2 hatch-cum-MPV in the late 1990s _ an expensive-to-make car that was clearly ahead its time which Audi eventually had to stop producing.

The Urban Concept sports an ultra lightweight body with minimal features, 1+1 seating position and two electric motors for zero CO2 emissions. Note that fancy outboard 21-inch wheels.

- What if those wheels are tucked into the body?

You might get a proper preview of an all-new city car from Audi, although there isn't a name left below the A1. But who knows, there might be chance for a new sub-brand, like how BMW did with the 'I' nomenclature .

And now that Mercedes-Benz also has the Smart name for urban motoring, Audi would be missing the boat if it hasn't one to match both compatriot premium brands.

Urban Concept’s cabin features a 1+1 seating layout.

- Could Audi hook up with Volkswagen?

Certainly, since both brands are tied up together within the mighty VW Group of car brands. Volkswagen is known to be readying the market launch of its new city car _ previewed frequently in past Up! concept series _ in Frankfurt, so Audi theoretically has the chance to inherit some DNA from it.

Interestingly, Volkswagen did come up with several whacky prototypes like Audi's Urban Concept in the past, you know, those space shuttle-like shapes that were capable of achieving that magical 1 litre of fuel per 100 kilometres (aka 1 litre car).

But none of those sci-fi cars ever made it to the showroom.

Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)