Remember the Audi A2->ke2085 city car? It was never available in the U.S., but it was released to critical acclaim in 1999 thanks to its innovative-for-the-time aluminum construction, punchy range of TDI and FSI engines and excellent fuel economy. Unfortunately, good reviews don’t always translate to good sales. Audi->ke14 only moved just over 175,000 units during its six-year run.

Now, 10 years later, Audi is mulling the possibility of re-entering the city car segment with a sporty new model slated to debut at the 2016 Paris Auto Show->ke227. Automobile Magazine says it will be positioned against the Fiat 500->ke1708 and Smart Fortwo.->ke1744 The new car will likely be available as a two- or four-seater, and perhaps a more extreme version similar to the Urban E-Tron Concept from 2011.

But here’s the really fun part: A range-topping sport variant is also planned and it could be powered by the 200 horsepower 1.2-liter V-twin engine from the Ducati 1199 Panigale.->ke4026 Ferdinand Piech was reportedly the arbitrator of the deal with Ducati,->ke622 who, in return would get a stripped-down, open-top version of the new car similar to the KTM X-Bow.->ke2333 But, as you may have heard, Piech is currently on the outs at the Volkswagen->ke94 Group, so that plan may be in jeopardy. Lets hope it’s not, because everything about it sounds great.

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Automobile goes on to say that Audi will likely collaborate on the new city car with Seat->ke80 and Skoda->ke82 to build the new car using the Volkswagen Group’s MQB Architecture. Under the potential Ducati-powered wild child, both 110-horsepower three-cylinder gasoline and 100-horsepower three-cylinder diesel engines will be available. An all-electric version is also a good possibility that Audi hopes will rival the BMW i3 ->ke4694and Fiat 500E.

Why it matters

Unlike the A2, Audi’s next city car will likely be available here in the U.S. The small-car market was essentially nonexistent in the U.S. in 1999, but thanks in part to rising fuel prices and a general paradigm shift away from SUVs,->ke145 small cars have become a much more common sight on American roads. Hopefully, that Ducati-powered version comes along, because (and I know I’m repeating myself here) it sounds really, really awesome.

2011 Audi Urban E-Tron Concept

Read our full review here.