Volkswagen has shown a new all-electric concept version of its bread-and-butter Golf model called the "Golf blue-e-motion" that will spawn a production version powered by zero-emissions electric motor in 2013.
The "Golf blue-e-motion" concept, which was presented today to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is powered by an electric motor integrated in the engine compartment driving the front wheels. It produces 85kW or 115-horsepwoer and a maximum torque of 270Nm or 199 lb-ft right from a stop.
The car gets a set of lithium-ion batteries with a total capacity of 26.5 kilowatt-hours located in the bootspace, under the rear bench seat and in the centre tunnel between the front seats. Volkswagen claims that cargo capacity is 237 liters versus the standard model's 350 liters.
All in all, the all-electric Golf tips the scales at 1,545 kg / 3,406 lbs, or 205kg / 452 lbs more than a comparable Golf BlueMotion TDI with DSG
Volkswagen said that the Golf blue-e-motion has a driving range of up to 150 kilometers / 93 miles, while it can sprint from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in 11.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 140km/h or 87mph.
Next year, the German automaker will build a fleet of 500 Golf blue-e-motion test cars to assess the drivetrain and energy storage modules "under all conceivable conditions".
A production version of the all-electric Golf blue-e-motion will be launched onto the market in 2013.
