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Audi plans a new city car to challenge Fiat’s 500, including a Ducati-powered version

Presently, Audi only has one true “city car” that rivals the Fiat 500 and MINI Cooper: the A1. Unfortunately for those in North America, the A1 is exclusive to Europe.

Now it looks like the German automaker is planning a new city car with several versions to appeal to a wide variety of consumers. Automobile Magazine is reporting that the production model will be previewed by a concept at the 2016 Paris Motor Show.

Scheduled for production sometime before 2020, the subcompact would be built in two- and four-door body styles with a few engine options. The MQB platform will underpin the new model, and it’s a good chance front-wheel drive will be the standard setup, with Quattro all-wheel drive available as an option.

A pair of three-cylinder engines will be offered, including a gas engine making 110 horsepower and a diesel motor developing 100 horsepower. If oil and gas burners aren’t your thing, an electric variant is planned with 80 hp or 120 hp outputs. The estimated range will be 125 miles on a charge.

Now to the good stuff: There are also plans for a high-performance version that will use a Ducati-sourced 1.2-liter two-cylinder with 200 hp on tap. The model would seat two occupants and feature a convertible roof. The project was a darling of Ferdinand Piech’s, who recently resigned as Volkswagen Group Chairman, so whether Audi will actually build the hotter version is up in the air.

The high-performance version would be the first product to utilize Ducati’s engines in an Audi model since the German brand acquired the Italian motorcycle manufacturer three years ago.

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