MODEL DETAILS
What: Audi A2 colour.storm
Era: Audi modern era
Model Family: A2
Market / Zone: EU
Model Years: 2003, 2004
Production Span: unknown
Number Produced: unknown
Model / Generation Code(s): type 8Z, AU249
Chassis / Matrix: A04, PQ24
SPECIAL EDITION DETAILS
- Available in vibrant exterior colors of Imola Yellow, Misano Red Pearl Effect, Sprint Blue Pearl Effect and Papaya Orange
- Matte black exterior elements including roof, mirrors, wheel arches, bumper strips, rubbing strips and service module flap
- color-coordinated interior upholstery matching exterior color
- S line specification 9-spoke wheels
TECHNICAL DETAILS
SUMMARY
The Audi A2 colour.storm was a special edition of the Audi A2 compact car, introduced in 2003 as part of a lifestyle campaign aimed at broadening the model’s appeal, particularly among younger buyers. Distinguished by its bold paint finishes and contrasting trim, the colour.storm variant was available with four of the A2’s five engine options and emphasized a more playful, urban image compared to the standard model.
BACKGROUND
The Audi A2, launched in 1999, was a lightweight aluminium-bodied compact car built on the Audi Space Frame (ASF)principle. Although praised for its engineering innovation and efficiency, the model struggled to achieve strong sales. In early 2003, Audi introduced the colour.storm edition as part of a marketing initiative to increase the car’s visibility and inject lifestyle appeal into the A2 range.
The concept was presented under the slogan “Cheerful colours bring a fresh breeze to the compact class.” The programme included a touring promotional campaign across Germany, branded as the A2 colour.storm tour.
DESIGN FEATURES
The colour.storm edition was distinguished by its range of vibrant exterior colours, including Imola Yellow, Misano Red pearl effect, Sprint Blue pearl effect, and Papaya Orange. These finishes were paired with matte black exterior elements, covering the roof, mirrors, wheel arches, bumper strips, rubbing strips, and the service module flap.
Interior options allowed for colour-coordinated upholstery in red, yellow, or blue, reflecting the exterior paint choice. The overall design was intended to give the A2 a more rugged, off-road-inspired look, drawing comparisons to the Audi allroad quattro.
According to Audi designer Gerhard Pfefferle, the edition emphasized the A2’s “rugged and agile” qualities while presenting it as a “sporty lifestyle car.”
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
The colour.storm edition was available with all of the A2’s engines except the 1.2 TDI “3L” model, which was focused on maximum fuel efficiency. Among the options was the 1.6 FSI petrol engine, producing 110 bhp (82 kW) and capable of a top speed of 202 km/h. Customers could also specify 16- or 17-inch aluminium wheels in six-arm or nine-spoke designs.
LAUNCH & MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Audi began taking orders for the colour.storm in March 2003, with market launch scheduled for May 2003. The equipment package cost an additional €330 when combined with the Advance trim level.
To promote the edition, Audi organized the A2 colour.storm tour, a series of events across Germany where 14 specially prepared campaign cars were displayed in public spaces. Promotional activities included:
- Berlin (1 February 2003): As part of the “Long Night of the Museums” event, colour.storm cars were displayed at the Audi Forum for the “the.photo.you.take” digital photo evening.
- Hamburg (14–16 February 2003): Campaign cars were placed outside cafés and bars, accompanied by a promotional SMS campaign.
- Munich (8 March 2003): Vehicles were displayed at the Olympic Stadium during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and Bayer Leverkusen.
The campaign was supported by Claudia Pechstein, Germany’s most successful Winter Olympic athlete at the time, and included comic-style advertising motifs inspired by 1960s and 1970s illustration.
LEGACY
The colour.storm edition added a more expressive option to the A2 range and highlighted Audi’s willingness to use bold design treatments on a model otherwise associated with technical innovation and efficiency. While the A2 itself remained a niche product until the end of its production in 2005, the colour.storm variant is remembered as one of its most distinctive versions.
PHOTO GALLERY
PRESS RELEASE
Lifestyle Campaign with the Audi A2 colour.storm: Cheerful colours bring a fresh breeze to the compact class
[source: Audi AG, Jan 30, 2003]
- Misano red, Imola yellow and Sprint blue paint finishes and matt black external fittings can be ordered for the A2 from mid-March onwards 14 campaign cars at events held during the A2 colour.storm tour
- Audi’s new concept is aimed at increasing the A2’s appeal to younger customer groups
The storm that Audi is blowing up for its A2 model is – a colour storm! During the year, a cheerful, colourful high-value version of this compact aluminium car, which has already won many design and innovation awards, will be added to the sales programme: the A2 colour-storm. Together with new design elements, the sporting character of the Audi A2 and its appeal to the modern city-dweller will be emphasised still more. It is a weight-optimised, fast, low-consumption mode of lifestyle transport that will appeal to younger buyers in particular.
The A2 colour.storm can be ordered from mid-March onwards. The market launch is scheduled for the end of May. The paint finishes Misano red, Imola yellow and Sprint blue will then be available, with the roof, outside mirrors, wheel arches, side rubbing strips, service
module flap and bumper strips in contrasting matt black. The extra charge for the A2 colour.storm equipment in combination with the Advance equipment and trim package is 330 Euro. The A2 colour.storm can be obtained with all engine options except the A2 1.2 TDI. To match the new exterior paint finishes, the customer can optionally order the seat upholstery in red, yellow or blue.
“It’s the colour of a car in particular that conveys its lifestyle character. A striking colour scheme is associated with attributes such as ‘dynamic’, ‘youthful’ and ‘wild’ – and has a high recollection value!” says Gerhard Pfefferle, Head of Design at AUDI AG.
The matt black plastic trim items listed above also change the A2 colour.storm’s outward appearance. They are similar to those featured on the Audi allroad quattro and give this compact model something of the same ‘off-road’ character. Design chief Pfefferle comments:
The A2 colour.storm team chose the latest and most powerful car in the A2 model range as a technical basis: the Audi A2 1.6 FSI with direct petrol injection, an output of 110 bhp and a top speed of 202 kilometres an hour. This engine’s power reaches the road via either 16- or 17-inch cast aluminium wheels of 6-arm or 9-spoke design.
The lifestyle campaign concept was presented during the winter months at selected events, using 14 campaign cars in bright, cheerful colours, which travelled the country as the ‘A2 colour.storm tour’. The colour storm created by Audi’s smallest model is scheduled to break out at top sports events and in city-centre settings, for instance the “Long Night of the Museums” in Berlin on February 1. The A2 colour.storm cars are also to be seen at the ‘digital photo evening’ event in the Audi Forum, Berlin, as “the.photo.you.take” models. The A2 colour.storm campaign cars’ paint finishes, Misano red, Imola yellow, Papaya orange and Almond beige, bring a bold splash of colour to the grey sadness of winter.
During the tour, the campaign cars will be presented by Audi’s partner, ice-skating star Claudia Pechstein, Germany’s most successful Winter Olympics athlete. Special comic-style campaign motifs have been prepared to draw attention to this project. For the first time, Audi’s advertising is using illustrations that recall the style of the 1960s and 1970s, and take up the theme of the A2 colour.storm and the car’s paint schemes in an extremely amusing manner.
The next A2 colour.storm tour dates
Berlin, February 1: As part of the ‘Long Night of the Museums’, several A2 colour.storm cars will be on display in the Audi Forum, Berlin, as subject-matter for the digital photo event entitled “the.photo.you.take”.
Hamburg, February 14 – 16: In the big North German city on the Alster, an intriguing SMS campaign is being run in connection with the A2 colour.storm. Campaign cars will be parked in front of selected ‘in’ cafés and bars.
Munich, March 8: When the local soccer club FC Bayern München plays Bayer Leverkusen at home, the A2 colour.storm will be on display in Munich’s Olympic Stadium.