Electric Volkswagen up! gains an "e" before the name. e-up!

Even though sales of electric cars are smaller than was predicted, car companies continue to present fully electric models. This time it was Volkswagen that brought to the Annual Press and Investors Conference in Wolfsburg their first fully electric production vehicle, the five-door e-up!.

For such a small electric car it has some very interesting specifications. The 18.7kWh battery is more than enough to give this vehicle a range of 150km (93 miles), more than enough to travel within the city, and it can be charged up to 80% in just 30 minutes. The car weighs just 1185kg (22607lb) with the lithium-ion battery.

The electric motor has a peak power of 60kW (82hp) while the continuous power is rated at 40kW (55hp). The maximum torque is of 210Nm from almost 0rpm. The car won't be able to pass the 135km/h (84mph) and will accelerate from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in a respectable time of 14 seconds.

The public presentation will take place at the Frankfurt Motor Show, to be held from September 10, 2013 to September 22, 2013, with orders starting right after that.

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Volkswagen introduces the Cross up! ahead of the Geneva Motor Show

The small city car gained a tougher look thanks to the new silver roof rails, black plastic cladding for the wheel arches, side skirts and the lower part of the front and rear bumpers. Also new are the 16 inch wheels with a tire size of 185/50 with a higher suspension.

Mechanically the Cross version is equal to the normal version, with the same three-cylinder gasoline engine producing 75hp (55kW) mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.

Volkswagen didn't reveal if there were any changes to the car's traction control system, so we can't say if you can go to a dirt road or not.

On the inside we have a special trim for the seats in red or dark gray, besides a new matching instrument panel, floor mats, a leather package for the steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake, plus chrome surrounds for the air vents and speedometer.

The public presentation will take place at the Geneva Motor Show., with sales starting in late summer from 13.950 euros ($18.650 or £11.800).

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Volkswagen Cross Up! testing in the snow

Back in 2011, in the Frankfurt Motor Show, Volkswagen introduced several models based on the little city car, Up!. One of them was the Cross Up!, an all-terrain version of the small car.

Now CarScoop has revealed pictures of the new ultra small "SUV" testing in the snow. The car is similar to the concept introduced at the beginning of the year (below you can see more photos of that vehicle that was shown in the Geneva Motor Show), and it stands out particularly for its 'off-road' appearance via the black plastic extensions on the fenders, bumpers with specific design, roof rails and 16inch wheels that help raise the car 15mm.

Engines choices will probably be the same 1.0liter three-cylinder petrol engine driving the front wheels with 60 and 75hp. Later, an 1.2TDI engine with 75hp might be an option.

Source: CarScoop

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