Frankfurt show star: VW E-Up! concept
Volkswagen's impossibly cute Up! concept car series has had a bright spark added in the guise of the E-Up!. The E-Up! is an all-electric plug-in version of the cool concept and VW was strongly hinting that it'll be put into production alongside more conventionally powered relatives in the near future. VW's boss claims around 2013 is likely for the plug-in model, the firm happily admitting that it might not be the first to introduce electric cars, but pointing out that its solutions are perhaps better thought-out than some of the competition.
What's all the fuss about?
Electric cars are the talk of the Frankfurt show and when players like VW start talking about production models then there really is a paradigm shift in the car market. The E-Up! should offer a range of around 80 miles from a full charge, a 0-62mph time of just over 11.3 seconds and a top speed of around 84mph. It plugs directly into the mains with a full charge taking around five hours. The range should be enough for the sort of urban journeys that VW expects its E-Up! to cover, VW's Martin Winterkorn admitting that although the E-Up! represents a path to an electric future, petrol and diesel technology will still be hugely important in transportation for many years to come for longer journeys.
Any new technology?
Lots of new stuff with the E-Up!, not least roof-mounted solar panels that help keep the lithium ion batteries charged or interior cool when it's parked. A novel 'range extender' is fitted in the boot in the form of an electric scooter, VW envisioning users taking the scooter for a ride around town once the E-Up! is parked up.
Will it ever see the light of day?
VW claims 2013 in limited numbers alongside its petrol and diesel Up! relatives. Easily the coolest car at VW Group's exclusive pre-show affair, the E-Up! took centre stage at the event, which was quite a feat given three mid-engined drop-top models from Lamborghini, Bugatti and Audi, as well as a new flagship saloon from Bentley.
Frankfurt show star: VW E-Up! concept pictures
