Volkswagen e-up! revealed!

When the e-up! concept was launched at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show Volkswagen said the production version would be ready in 2013; and true to their word here it is! We like the up!—it is the reigning World Car of the Year after all!—and think it’s a pretty nifty thing for ferrying folks around cities the world over! Now, with the e-up!, you can do all that ferrying with zero emissions!

Unsurprisingly the e-up! is not going to win any TLGPs, despite its lowish 1185kg kerbweight the little blighter only has a maximum output of 60kW/210Nm! Mind, VW also states the continuous power of the e-up! is just 40kW! That means reaching 100km/h will take you an epic 14 seconds! The e-up! has an equally modest top speed of 135km/h, but with modest driving can travel up to 150km/h on a single charge!

Charging is done through the Combined Charging System connecter—behind the fuel flap of course!—and can be used by AC or DC charging methods!

Volkswagen boss Dr Martin Winterkorn drove the e-up! to Volkswagen’s Annual Press and Investors Conference last week and the model will make its full debut in Frankfurt later thus year!

The new e-up!

• Compact four-seater makes its debut at the Annual Press and Investors Conference
• The first all-electric Volkswagen will have its premiere at the IAA
• Four-seat electric pioneer with range of up to 150 km

Wolfsburg, 14 March 2013 – Volkswagen is writing a new chapter in mobility in presenting its first fully electric production vehicle: the new e-up!. The four-seat car – which operates with nearly zero noise – is being shown at today’s Annual Press and Investors Conference in Wolfsburg. The new e-up! impresses with its driving range of 150 km and excellent everyday practicality.

Innovations that fascinate: the e-up! offers entry to a new pioneering vehicle concept with an electric drive and four seats. A car for daily use in the city—but it is also ideal for commuters or as an innovative second car. It can handle distances of up to 150 km effortlessly. Afterwards, the e-up! can be recharged to as much as 80 per cent of its energy storage capacity within 30 minutes.

With nearly zero noise, the e-up! is powered by an electric motor with 60 kW / 82 PS peak power—without any disturbing gearshift interruptions or powertrain noise. Its continuous power is 40 kW / 55 PS. Its maximum torque of 210 Newton meters is available immediately with the first revolution. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h within 14 seconds and reaches a top speed of 135 km/h. The lithium-ion battery integrated in the underfloor area has a total energy storage capacity of 18.7 Kilowatt-hours (kWh); this means that the car can cover up to 150 km (per NEDC) on a single charge thanks to its low vehicle weight of 1,185 kg.

The port for charging the battery in the e-up! is hidden behind the “fuel door”. As an option, the Combined Charging System (CCS) is used, which has been standardised by Volkswagen and other carmakers. It supports both DC and AC charging, so that drivers can easily charge their cars at most charging stations—regardless of the power sources or charging rates that they offer.

The styling of the e-up! is subtle and expresses high quality. One distinctive exterior feature is the curved layout of the LED daytime running lights in the front bumper. In addition, the front end, sills and underbody have been aerodynamically optimised.

The e-up! can be made out at first glance by its machine-polished 15-inch alloy wheels, Volkswagen emblems with blue backgrounds and an e-up! logo at the rear.

The vehicle’s interior features e-up! light-grey seat covers with blue top-stitched seams. Special leather and chrome accents have been used to convey a puristic impression that matches the vehicle concept of a full-fledged urban electric car.

In autumn, the e-up! will celebrate its fair premiere at the International Autoshow in Frankfurt and can be ordered subsequently.