By Mike Torpey on 2013-03-15 - Driving Force news editor and responsible for organising our daily output. He was staff motoring editor of the Liverpool Echo for 20 years.
Volkswagen on an
electric charge
THE wraps have been lifted on Volkswagen's first fully electric production car, the new e-up!
A four-seater operating with virtually zero noise, the model is being shown for the first time at the annual Press and Investors Conference in Wolfsburg, Germany.
Designed for daily use in city traffic, the e-up! has a driving range of 94 miles and can be recharged to as much as 80 per cent of its energy storage capacity within 30 minutes.
The e-up! is powered by an electric motor with 82PS of peak power - without any disturbing gearshift interruptions or powertrain noise - and its continuous power is 55PS. Performance is 0-62mph inside 14 seconds and there's a top speed of 83mph.
Volkswagen says the lithium-ion battery integrated in the underfloor area has a total energy storage capacity of 18.7kWh, meaning the car can cover up to 94 miles on a single charge thanks to its low vehicle weight.
The port for charging the battery is hidden behind the fuel filling flap and as an option, the Combined Charging System is used, supporting both DC and AC charging, so that drivers can easily power up their cars at most charging stations.
As for styling, the e-up! has distinctive features like the curved layout of the LED daytime running lights in the front bumper. There are also machine-polished 15-inch alloy wheels, VW emblems with blue background and an e-up! logo at the rear.
Inside there are light grey seat covers with blue top-stitched seams plus special leather and chrome accents to match the concept of an urban electric car.
The order book opens after this autumn's Frankfurt Motor Show with first UK customer deliveries expected early next year.
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