Volkswagen’s annual ‘Press and Investors’ conference in its home city of Wolfsburg, Germany is normally a strait-laced affair dominated by financial detail and shareholder grumbling, but this year the German giant broke with tradition and debuted a new vehicle – the electric version of the Up compact.
We won’t see the zero-emission Up again until later this year at the Frankfurt Motor Show when it will be revealed as a production model with European sales slated for early 2014.
Under the bonnet is a 60kW direct-drive electric motor which delivers 210Nm of torque instantly. Zero to 100km/h takes 14 seconds and the electric Volkswagen Up has a top speed of 135km/h.
That 135km/f figure means the zero-emission Up might struggle a tad down Germany’s super-fast Autobahns (the main one to Berlin isn’t far from Volkswagens Wolfsburg HQ and it’s not for the feint-hearted on cold, wet wintry Friday nights when the Golf Rs and W12-powered Phaetons depart at warp-speed driven by Volkswagen executives heading home!) but as an urban commuter the Up takes some beating.
Volkswagen says the range between re-charges is 150kms and an 80 per-cent re-charge can be done within 30 minutes.
The electric Up uses the European automotive industry’s ‘Combined Charging System’ (suitable for both DC and AC charging) and the charge port is mounted behind the regular fuel filling flap.
Externally, the electric Up is identified by its unique 15-inch alloy wheels, a curved front-end with LED DRLs in the front bumper and aero-enhanced sills and under body. In addition the Volkswagen badges have a blue background (just like the ‘old style’ VW logo).
Inside, the zero-emission Up runs unique grey/blue seats and there are leather/chrome accents.
No word yet on any Australian plans.
