Volkswagen unveils all-electric e-up! headed for production

Previewed in concept form at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, a production-spec Volkswagen e-up! was revealed this week in Wolfsburg at the automaker’s annual Press and Investors Conference. Based on a purpose-modified 5-door version of the company’s diminutive up! platform, this 4-passenger zero-emission city/commuter car will go on sale in Europe in the fall, following its official public debut at this year’s Frankfurt event.

Also: The 40-mpg Cars of 2013

The Volkswagen e-up! is fitted with an electric motor that can develop 80 peak horsepower and 54 hp under continuous operation along with 155 lb-ft of torque. Driving the front wheels, it’s energized by an 18.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack integrated into the underfloor area. While tipping the scales at a relatively light 2,612 pounds, the e-up! still requires nearly 14 seconds to make a rather leisurely 0-62 mph run, on its way to a top speed of 84 mph. VW says the e-up! can travel about 93 miles on a single charge on the European test cycle and that its battery pack can be replenished to 80-percent capacity in just 30 minutes. The Volkswagen e-up! also will be available with an optional Combined Charging System that permits owners to use virtually all types of AC and DC power options to accomplish the recharging process.

Also: 2013 Best Resale Value Award winners

To help tidy its aero profile, Volkswagen optimized the front fascia, side sills and underbody of the e-up! The car also wears distinctive machine-polished alloy wheels wrapped in low-rolling resistance tires. Inside, the cabin reprises the same light grey and blue color themes found on the exterior, setting them off with leather and chrome accent trim bits. While Volkswagen has indicated that the e-up! won’t be coming to America, we can expect to see an electric-powered e-Golf turn up in showrooms here likely as a 2016 model.