Volkswagen E-Up!

VW has reconsidered, and the Up! actually morphed into a front-engine, front-wheel-drive vehicle as it moved rapidly towards production. The switch to such a layout allows the Wolfsburg-based automaker to engage in extensive component sharing with the new Polo and a number of other cars on bigger platforms. From Rear Engine to Front Engine to No EngineNow, again in Frankfurt, VW is launching the next Up! concept, the E-Up!, a fully electric car which should be perfectly suited to city driving. It has lithium-ion batteries stored in the floor, and an electric motor with a peak power of around 80 hp. Continuous output is 55 hp, enough to propel the E-Up! from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in an acceptable 11.3 seconds, although top speed is an entirely unimpressive 84 mph (135 km/h) (which we believe to be governed).

VW hasn’t disclosed the weight of the E-Up!, but the maximum range is a mere ("up to," says VW) 81 miles (130 km). Figure 60 miles (96 km) as a more realistic figure. Recharging from your household electrical outlet takes as long as five hours. It can be done at night, but if you think like us and get annoyed waiting for that gas tank to be filled up in a dull five minutes, prepare for a real test of your patience. The E-Up! is only for you if you have access to parking with an electrical outlet. Sounds easy, but good luck finding it in a European city at night, unless you have your own garage space for what will likely be a politically correct, second or third car-as-accessory.

That said, we find the E-Up! interesting not only for its save-the-earth powertrain, but also for hinting at what will become a family of cars with far more mainstream appeal. This is a small car; the E-Up! is just 125.6 inches (3.2 m) long, 64.6 inches (1.64 m) wide, and it stands 57.9 inches (1.47 m) tall. Seating is arranged in a 3+1 configuration, similar to that of the Toyota iQ. The exterior carries over the basic idea of the first Up! concept, although the side-window treatment and the proportions have become significantly more conventional. The front end evokes memories of the Beetle, says VW, apparently forgetting that it makes an entire car that evokes memories of the Beetle. Inside, the look is frugal, but that's appropriate for an entry-level, compact, and lightweight car (we figure that versions with the internal combustion engine will indeed be far lighter than the current Polo, the next model up the size ladder). A touch-screen system forms the basis for much of the interaction between car and driver.

One of the few really cool things about electric cars is the eerily silent acceleration. So when VW development chief Ulrich Hackenberg showed a simulation of a traditional engine sound for the E-Up! at the launch of the concept prior to the Frankfurt auto show, it struck us as somewhat counterintuitive. In any event, we can live with the Up!'s looks, we like its reasonable size, and we hope it signals the beginning of a significant reduction in the weight of vehicles—but please give us a turbocharged gasoline version, just for the sake of comparison. And while you are at it, keep the unsightly greenish yellow to yourselves.

Source : Car and Driver, by Jens Meiners