Page 1 of 2 Next >> Volkswagen has unveiled a hybrid version of its up! city car at the Tokyo Motor Show. The twin up! concept car uses a 0.8-litre two-cylinder turbodiesel engine in series with a 27 kW electric motor and a seven-speed DSG gearbox - a version of the drivetrain found in the pioneering XL1 - and offers combined fuel consumption of 256.8 mpg.
All new Volkswagen vehicles are deigned to accept alternative power trains as well as conventional ones, so only minor modifications (such as lengthening the front overhang by 30 mm) were necessary to fit the plug-in hybrid drivetrain into the four-seat twin up!.
The twin up!'s diesel engine and electric motor each produce up to 35 kW, while the maximum system power output of the twin up!'s front-mounted drivetrain is 55 kW. 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.
Good aerodynamics (0.30 Cd), a low unladen weight (1,205 kg) despite the addition of the lithium-ion batteries and 165/65 R15 tyres optimised for low rolling resistance all help to maximise the twin up!'s efficiency, and to achieve the 256.8 mpg combined fuel consumption figure and 27 g/km CO2 emissions.
A decoupling clutch between the diesel and electric motors allows the electric motor to operate independently. Provided that there is sufficient battery charge, the driver can press the e-mode button for emissions-free driving. Page 1 of 2 Next >>
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twin up! Concept
Volkswagen has unveiled a hybrid version of its up! city car at the Tokyo Motor Show. The twin up! concept car uses a 0.8-litre two-cylinder turbodiesel engine in series with a 27 kW electric motor and a seven-speed DSG gearbox - a version of the drivetrain found in the pioneering XL1 - and offers combined fuel consumption of 256.8 mpg.