VOLKSWAGEN has lifted the lid on a hybrid version of its up! city car.

The twin up! concept car uses a 0.8-litre two-cylinder turbodiesel engine in tandem with a 27kW electric motor and a seven-speed DSG gearbox - and offers combined fuel consumption of a whopping 256.8mpg.

As all new VW vehicles are deigned for alternative power trains as well as conventional ones, minor modifications were necessary to fit the plug-in hybrid drivetrain into the four-seat twin up!.

The twin up!'s diesel engine and electric motor each produce up to 35kW, while the maximum system power output of the twin up!'s front-mounted drivetrain is 55kW.

And the lithium-ion battery pack, 12v battery and 33-litre fuel tank are all located between the rear seats and the boot.

Volkswagen says the car's aerodynamics, low weight and low rolling resistance tyres all contribute to the twin up!'s efficiency, helping achieve the 256.8mpg fuel figure and 27g/km CO2 emissions. 

A decoupling clutch between the diesel and electric motors allows the electric motor to operate independently, so provided there's sufficient battery charge, the driver can press the e-mode button for emissions-free driving.

In fact on electric power alone the twin up! can reach 77mph and accelerate from 0-37mph in 8.8 seconds. Range on batteries alone is up to 31 miles.

But using diesel and electric motors together, the car can accelerate from 0-62 in 15.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 87mph.

When braking, the electric motor acts as a generator, and the braking energy is used to charge the battery.

Styling wise, the twin up! is similar to the all-electric e-up! model, and also includes blue double stripes above the sills.

The main paint colour is Sparkling White, which includes blue flakes that create a changing pattern, while the interior is dominated by an off-white Ceramic colour, with a fabric and leather combination upholstery featuring blue piping and reflective strips on the seats centre panels.

The instrument panel is bespoke, and all instrumentation is digital.