The battery-powered Ford Focus and Nissan Leaf may soon have new competition, as Volkswagen unveiled a pair of electric cars in Frankfurt this week. There’s a good chance that both the diminutive, currently Europe-only e-up! and the e-Golf will find their way to our shores.
The template is similar for both vehicles, which are based on existing production cars. A lithium-ion battery pack is mounted under the floor, and synchronous electric motors power the wheels. The e-Golf is powered by an 85 kW engine, which translates to about 114 horsepower and about 199 pound-feet of torque. The smaller e-up! gets a 60 kW engine with 81 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. The electric motors’ copious torque figures result in reasonable acceleration for both cars, and fuel range hovers around 100 miles for both cars.
The e-Golf is based on the seventh-generation Golf, and includes adaptive cruise control, city emergency braking and other driver assistance systems. From the exterior, only the lack of exhaust pipes and LED taillights set it apart from the conventional Golf. LED headlights will be offered in Europe, but it’s not certain if they’ll come to the U.S. or not. Inside, a unique upholstery pattern with blue accents and a standard navigation system are offered. Apart from the battery-power display replacing the tachometer, there’s not much different about the e-Golf from the driver’s seat.
The e-up! promises to stand out more, if only because Americans aren’t familiar with the Volkswagen up! microcompact that it’s based on. Aiming to compete with the Fiat 500e and Smart fortwo electric, the e-up! is a distinctive and tiny five-door. LED lighting, special alloy wheels and bright colors help it to stand out.
Both cars will be available with a 3.6 kW fast-charging wall box that will replenish a flat battery in about six hours. As with the Jetta hybrid, there’s a good chance that the drive will be as entertaining as that provided by the gasoline-powered versions when Volkswagen’s new electrics reach our shores.
