Audi has confirmed plans to launch a small electric city car, likely to be based on the VW Up! concept.

Peter Schwarzenbauer, who sits on the management board at Ingolstadt, told Autocar “We will offer a pure electric car” at last week’s Paris motor show.

Schwarzenbauer was responding to rumours that Mini is planning an electric version of the Cooper for the LA motor show in November.

He went on to reveal that the small electric Audi “will not be based on the A1”, the firm’s premium supermini, which was previewed by a concept car in Paris.