2013 Frankfurt Motor Show: Volkswagen displays e-Up! and e-Golf electric models

The e-Up! can be driven for 160 km on a single charge, while the e-Golf with its larger battery has a range of 190 km. 

Volkswagen has gone all-electric at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show with the world premiere of not one but two all-new electric models – the e-Up! and the e-Golf. Both these electric versions are based on the standard Up! city car and the Golf hatchback.

Under the hood, the e-Up! gets a 60 kW electric motor. Delivering a healthy 210 Nm of torque from standstill, the e-Up! completes the sprint to 100 km/h in 12.4 seconds and goes on to an electronically restricted top speed of 130 kmph.

The bigger, more powerful e-Golf features a 85 kW/115 PS electric motor. The motor produces its maximum torque of 270 Nm as soon as it starts off. As a result, the e-Golf takes just 10.4 seconds to hit 100 kmph from standstill. The top speed is electronically restricted to 140 kmph.

The e-Up! can be driven for 160 km on a single battery charge, while the e-Golf with its larger battery has a range of 190 km. Both the models offer two driving modes and four regenerative braking modes to help extend maximum driving range.

Standard features include automatic climate control, navigation system, heated windscreen and LED daytime running lights. The e-Golf, in particular, features LED headlamps – a first for any Volkswagen model.  The e-Up! and e-Golf will hit the showrooms early next year in Europe, followed by North American and Asian markets later during the year.

Alongside the e-Up! Volkswagen has also shown the e-Load Up! – Which is basically a compact van based on the e-Up! Designed for commercial usage, the e-Load Up! features plastic body cladding and a fold up passenger seat to give more than 1,400 litres of cargo space.