While a production version of the Volkswagen Beetle is still some months off, the automaker is offering one more tantalizing early look at a variation on its basic theme at the 2012 Auto China exhibition. Having made its world debut at Detroit earlier this year with its top firmly bolted in place, the Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept took to the stand in al fresco mode for the first time in Beijing.
Beyond turning up topless, VW says nothing else has actually changed on this rakish one-off, two-seat roadster. However it has now filled in a few more blanks in the vehicle’s spec sheet. For openers, it admits the E-Bugster Concept’s front-mounted 114-horsepower electric motor requires a rather leisurely 10.8 seconds to propel it from 0-62 mph. However, the 28.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack located behind the seats does give it a minimum range of 112 miles when driven in the "urban world" and can be fully replenished at a Level III DC quick-charging facility in as little as 35 minutes. Volkswagen also noted that the E-Bugster Concept is fitted with a new, universal Combined Charging System that ensures both the car’s controller and related internal electrical architecture are compatible with all types of charging hardware.
