Volkswagen twin Up! hybrid concept unveiled

Volkswagen has unveiled a hybrid version of its Up! city car at the Tokyo Motor Show. The twin Up! concept car gets a 0.8-litre two-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that combines with a 27 kW electric motor and seven-speed DSG gearbox. It is the same configuration which also powers the XL1. It offers a combined fuel consumption of 256.8mpg (90.91kmpl).

The front overhang of the Twin Up! has been increased by 30mm and it also gets some minor modifications, to fit the plug-in hybrid drivetrain. The Twin Up!'s diesel engine and electric motor produces up to 47bhp (35kW) respectively, while the maximum system power output of the vehicle's front-mounted drivetrain is 74bhp (55kW). The 8.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, 12 V battery and 33-litre fuel tank are all located between the rear seats and the boot.

A decoupling clutch between the diesel and electric motors allows the electric motor to operate independently. If there is sufficient battery charge, the driver can press the e-mode button for emissions-free driving. On electric power alone the twin Up! can attain a speed of 123kmph, and accelerates to 60kmph from zero in 8.8 seconds. The range on batteries alone is up to 51 kilometers. Using diesel and electric motors together, the car can accelerate from zero to 100kph in 15.7 seconds, and on to a top speed of 140kmph.

When braking, the electric motor acts as a generator, and the braking energy is used to charge the battery. Under appropriate conditions the TDI engine can be used to charge the main traction battery. Exteriors of the twin Up! gets its design cues from the all-electric e-Up!, and also includes flowing blue double strips above the sills.

The instrument panel is bespoke, and all instrumentation is digital. The visual image and content of the instruments change according to the vehicle’s driving mode (hybrid or all-electric). In hybrid mode the accents are white, while in pure electric mode they are blue. The central infotainment screen is configurable by the user, while for the first time in a Volkswagen the automatic climate controls below are exclusively digital. This innovative concept uses Active Matrix Organic LED (AMOLED) displays.