Browse over 9,000 car reviews

Volkswagen E-Bugster


The Koreans starred, the Japanese mounted a comeback, and One Ford hit the headlines with an extended family of Focus-based newcomers that it is certain to make a big hit in Australia. But it was one car and the commitment of its company chief that made the most impact as America fought back on the opening day of the 2011 North American International Motor Show.

The electic two-seat Volkswagen Beetle powered by an 85kW electric motor and with a range of 160km.

The electric drive unit is being called Blue e-motion and will be used in future VW products, including the upcoming Golf.

The batteries are housed under the rear bench seat and beneath the boot and weigh about 80kg. They can be recharged via a domestic plug or using a quick-charge station.

The E-Bugster differentiates itself from a regular Beetle with a lower ride height and the C-shaped daytime running lights that have become a signature element on VW's electric vehicles and runs on a set of 19-inch rims.

The coupe uses an blacked out A-frame to extend the look of the windscreen and emphasise the slightly curved roof, that doesn't look too far removed from the "backwards baseball cap" adopted on the Mini coupe.

The interior instrumentation also sets the E-Bugster apart from a regular Beetle. The tacho has been replaced with an energy consumption display that pendulums depending on whether the vehicle is acceleration or slowing down.

There's also a driving range indicator, battery charge display and a panel showing the intensity of battery regeneration during braking. The electric-only Beetle was joined by a petrol-electric Jetta hybrid sedan that VW says will go on sale in the US later in November.

VW product head Ulrich Hackenberg says the Jetta hybrid will go from 0-100km/h in less than nine seconds and can operate solely on the 20kW electric motor at speeds up to 27km/h, though only for a distance of around 2km, at which point the 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine kicks in, running through a seven-speed dual-clutch manual automated transmission.

Fuel economy is around 20 per cent lower than that of a conventional petrol vehicle. The hybrid Jetta adopts the Touareg hybrid's habit of decoupling the engine from the drivetrain when coasting or operating on the electric motor to reduce friction.

The 35kg battery is mounted under the rear seat. and VW says the lightweight components means weight has only risen by 100kg compared with a conventional Jetta.