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" The 2013 Volkswagen E-Up! will go from concept to production in 4 years, according to the German automaker. We&amp;#039;ve previously seen the Up! concept, but not as a battery electric. This family of city cars, developed as the spiritual successor to the original Beetle, is slated to debut in 2011 with conventional gas or diesel power.   While there is little resemblance to the Beetle, the original Up! concept shares the same mechanical layout as that icon by using an engine mounted in the back driving the rear axle. However, the E-Up! version varies from that formula by placing the electric motor under the hood to drive the front wheels. It is very compact at just about 7 feet in length, but has seating for 4 in what VW calls a 3+1 configuration where the driver is positioned slightly forward. The E-Up! concept also shows an evolution in the exterior design with smoother body work and a roof entirely covered in solar panels that provide continuous electric energy to run the car&amp;#039;s electrical system and if need be cool the interior.   Propulsion comes from a 60kW motor that can push this little car to 60 mph in about 11 seconds, or just a bit slower than a Toyota Prius. But thanks to plenty of low-end torque from the electric motor and the car&amp;#039;s relatively light curb weight of under 2,500 lbs., the E-Up! is expected to feel quite peppy off the line when driving around town. The concepts battery pack is an 18kWh lithium-ion unit that promises about 80 miles of emissions free driving, which should be enough distance for most commuters. If the car is plugged in at home to a 230v outlet, it requires only 5 hours to take a full charge.   Inside the E-Up! stresses frugality with manual windows and a lack of power features; the goal being to keep costs down and to optimize the efficiency without sacrificing practicality. An intelligent navigation system identifies charging stations and monitors both traffic and the car&amp;#039;s electrical load. When necessary, the system alerts the driver to the need for a charge and reserves a slot at the charging station before arrival. An 80 percent rapid battery charge is said to be possible in about an hour.   Upon arrival to a destination an electric folding scooter can be removed from the rear hatch where it is kept charged and used for a quick get away. Students who are perpetually late due to the long walk across campus will appreciate this concept. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-shows/frankfurt-auto-show/news/a14947/volkswagen-e-up/>