Unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, the E-Bugster concept is Volkswagen's latest move to inject some masculinity into the Beetle range. The chopped two-seater would seem to preview an upcoming Beetle variant to rival the MINI Coupé/Roadster.
The big difference between the MINI Coupé and the E-Bugster is that the VW packs a bank of lithium-ion batteries behind the seats. The batteries power an 85kWh electric motor that can propel the E-Bugster from 0-100km/h in 10.9 seconds and give it a range of 180 kilometres on a single charge. VW claims that the electric Bug can be fully charged in a little over half an hour.
Unfortunately we are not likely to see the E-Bugster make it to production. While the electric technology is much the same as that which powers the upcoming Golf Blue-e-motion the Beetle is based on the Passat/Jetta platform and not the MQB platform that underpins the Golf. That is why the batteries are mounted behind the seats rather than under the floor as they are in the Golf.
In an interview with Auto Express Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, VW Group board member and engineering boss, said that "There are no plans for an electric Beetle at the moment," and that the purpose of the concept was to "prepare customers for the new Beetle Cabriolet."
Can we still have the Bugster (without the E bit) Dr. Ulrich? Preferably with a 2.0-litre TFSI engine.