YOU'VE got to admire a manufacturer that decides to make a car out of tin cans.

Although Audi won't like me saying it, the ground-breaking A2 is not your average supermini, and therefore deserves a dramatic introduction.

In a bid to be a little more scientific in my approach, the German firm's car is indeed constructed out of aluminium, but, in the interests of quality control, not the type of cans which once contained the "Real Thing".

It takes an exceptionally-strong constitution to buck the current trend for producing cars made of steel and construct a hi-tech, high-value compact hatch, but that's exactly what Audi did in 2000.

And being no strangers to innovation, the engineers have been at it again, this time with a trick petrol engine boasting both decent economy and sprightly performance.

In the days before tall superminis boasting MPV-like driving positions, Audi decided to produce a tall compact hatchback with a commanding driving position.

Yes, you've guessed it, just like its quattro drivetrain, the company saw a gap in the market and plugged it good and proper.

Granted, the A2's cabin is spacious, but there's more to it than the simple act of raising the car's roof.

The cabin is pure Audi in execution, from the clarity of the instruments to the way the switches work with the oiled efficiency that we've come to expect.

Add in the test car's Sport trim, which mainly comprises of figure hugging front seats, firmer suspension, a natty leather-covered steering wheel and monster 17-inch alloy wheels, and it's easy to believe that the A2 is a real sporty "compact" hatch.

All-round visibility is good and, as the A2's rump drops almost vertically from roofline to bumper, touch parking antics can be left to the owners of cars with more voluptuous rears.

It's the same situation at the front, as the little Audi's snub nose makes it easy to position the car during such tricky manoeuvres.

In all fairness, the bonnet only needs to protect a range of modestly-dimensioned engines.

The test car's 1.6-litre petrol unit may, on first acquaintance, appear par for the course. After all, what supermini doesn't come with a 1,600cc motor these days?

What marks this lump out for special attention is the way it goes about the business of burning fuel. Its FSI moniker is the give-away, as that stands for Fuel Stratified Injection.

Simply put, it's one of the latest direct injection petrol units that boasts improved economy over lesser unleaded-supping units, yet is no slouch on the move.

This A2 will return almost 50mpg on the combined cycle.

That's a figure even a modest capacity diesel would be proud of, yet you don't have to put up with a clattery cold start cycle or infuriating turbo lag to achieve it.

Cruising is refined and relaxed, making motorway trips more enjoyable than in your average econo-hatch.

Yet when the need arises to overtake a troublesome dawdler, the engine's generous 110bhp and 114lb/ft of torque makes sprinting a doddle.

For more details, call Martins Audi on 01256 867020.