Volkswagen Twin-up!, plug-in hybrid prototype

The Tokyo Motor Show is the event chosen by the German brand to unveil the Volkswagen Twin-up! prototype. This model is based on the five-door Up! and features the engine developed for the XL1, that is, a 0.8 TDI engine plus an electric motor located at the front.

The Volkswagen Twin-up! needed to grow by 30 millimetres in its front overhang to accommodate this plug-in hybrid system. Visually, it can also be told apart by the use of an exclusive paint called “Sparkling White”, which can display different shades depending on the angle of incidence of the light.

Inside the cabin, the Volkswagen Twin-up! features a new interface that shows the driver all the necessary information. Furthermore, depending on the driving mode (hybrid or electric), the information displayed on the dashboard changes colour: white when driving in hybrid mode and blue in electric mode. Among other things, the needles, the scales and the ambient lighting around the dashboard are modified.

However, what really matters on the Twin-up! is the plug-in hybrid system made up of the 0.8 TDI diesel engine which produces around 48 CV of power, and the electric motor which, combined, deliver a total power of almost 75 CV. The battery is lithium-ion and can be recharged externally, as well as through the TDI engine, with an energy density of 8.6 kWh. As a result, the Twin-up! offers a range of around 50 kilometres with a top speed of 125 km/h when powered by the electric motor alone.

With a maximum torque of 215 Nm, this prototype has an acceleration from 0 to 60 km/h in around 8.8 seconds, which allows it to move easily through the city. If it continues accelerating to 100 km/h, it would take 15.7 seconds, and it can reach 140 km/h, which is the top speed of the entire hybrid system. In terms of consumption it manages with 1.1 litres per 100 kilometres, which makes it a genuine alternative for urban driving. Now we just have to wait and see whether Volkswagen goes on to build a production model.

Source | Volkswagen