Volkswagen CEO Dr. Martin Winterkorn delivered a speech in Münich on Friday where he announced that the German giant would release its first electric car in 2013. Among the points that Winterkorn emphasized was the race to electrification would be a marathon not a sprint. He also acknowledged that electrics alone won't be enough to meet all needs so VW is following a number of different technology paths. Winterkorn also warns against "electro-hype" which could raise unreasonably high expectations among consumers. Even in Germany, where consumers are considered to be better informed than in the U.S., surveys indicate that one in eight buyers think EVs are already here.

Winterkorn says that current battery technology is inadequate for the task. Referring to the 150 lb, 1.7 kWh NiMH battery for the upcoming Touareg hybrid, it has the energy equivalent of just 1.86 fl.oz of gasoline. Even lithium batteries still need work to get the cost and weight to a production viable point.

The first VW EV that arrives in 2013 will be based on the "New Small Family" derived from the up! concepts of 2007. As the decade wears on, VW plans to have a range of affordable EVs in its lineup. In addition to the EVs, Volkswagen will be introducing hybrids with and without plugs and Winterkorn expects gas and diesel engines to continue to be developed for another 15-20 years. Read Winterkorn's Google-translated speech after the jump.


[Source: Volkswagen]

Volkswagen Group CEO Dr. Martin Winterkorn has announced that the first of its New Small Family (NSF) micro-cars will start production in early 2011. The new models, based on the series of up! concepts from 2007, will initially be built the company's plant in Bratislava, Slovakia. The company plans to build three- and five-door hatchbacks based on the new architecture with variants for the Volkswagen, Seat and Skoda brands. Previously, Volkswagen has also indicated its intention to build the new mini-cars in multiple locations around the world, so this is likely just the beginning. So far, Volkswagen hasn't confirmed whether or not the cars will be offered in the U.S. market.


[Source: Volkswagen]

Speaking at the New York Auto Show, Volkswagen head Stefan Jacoby has said that the German automaker would consider launching the Up! microcar in the United States market. Says Jacoby, "Up! could be in the future of the market here. In urban areas like New York, a car like Up! has a good chance."

As it currently stands, VW plans to have the urban runabout ready for 2012, though it's not yet certain what countries will get first crack at the diminutive machine. We're also not entirely sure what kind of powertrain the Up! will be launched with or if it will be powered by gas, diesel, electricity or a combination thereof.

In related news, Jacoby suggested that Volkswagen would be in favor of a U.S. car scrapping scheme. "Such incentives could be modeled after the successful German scrapping program that provides vouchers for the purchase of new cars," he said. We'll see.


[Source: Reuters]

Volkswagen's NSF (new small family) concepts, the up! series, has been on our radar since appearing at auto shows in late 2007. Last fall, VW committed to bringing these vehicles to production models, and we heard that the leading candidate for a production site was the Škoda factory in Vrchlabi, in the Czech Republic because the up! production versions are supposed to be low cost vehicles. Automotive News Europe (subs req'd) is reporting that some engineers at VW group members Škoda and SEAT are worried that the components in the up! would be too expensive for them to sell. Axles, transmissions and engines will be the same throughout the NSF range; the differences will be in body styles and price tags. The VW group is hoping to sell a half-million of these NSF vehicles a year, and low-cost versions are pretty vital to that strategy. The Volkswagen up! should be on sale in late 2010. An Audi up! makes a lot more sense now as a way to recoup costs.

[Source: Automotive News Europe (subs req'd)]

It's been a busy day in Wolfsburg as VW followed up the release of a sketch of its upcoming mid-sized sedan with an announcement about new electric drive systems. VW and Toshiba have signed a letter of intent to collaborate on electric drive systems and power electronics. These electric drive systems will be used in battery-powered versions of the New Small Family (NSF) cars. The NSF lineup is made up of the production versions of the up! series of concepts first seen in 2007. VW is planning to build small cars based on this new platform under a number of its different brands around the world. In the press release, CEO Dr. Martin Winterkorn, indicated that VW wants to be the first to mass produce affordable electric vehicles on a large scale. In order to get there, VW is working with a number of partners in addition to Toshiba on elements such as lithium ion batteries. VW has not given an indication of when these electric cars may debut, but if they intend to be first, they will have to move fast.


[Source: Volkswagen]

Audi officials have been indicating for some time that the German brand will introduce a battery electric in the coming years. Last week at the Paris Motor Show, management board member Peter Schwarzenbauer reportedly confirmed that again to Britain's AutoCar magazine. However, contrary to some previous reports that the car would be based on the new A1 mini that appeared in concept form in Paris, Schwarzenbauer said the EV would be based on the upcoming NSF (new small family) which is the basis of the series of Volkswagen up! concepts that appeared in 2007. Volkswagen will brand the production version of the up! as the Lupo and the platform will also spawn models under other VW group brands such as Seat and Skoda. Thanks to zamafir for the tip!

[Source: AutoCar]

It was only last April that Audi was saying that it had no plans for an electric car (EV) in the immediate future. It's possible they're operating under a different definition of "immediate future" than us or maybe they have just changed their minds because, according to Car Magazine Online, Audi has unofficially said it will offer an electric version of the Volkswagen up! when they become available, possibly before 2011. In terms of vehicle development lead times that sure sounds like "immediate future" to us! Of course, it is conceivable they may be as just as flaky with their EV plans as they have been with their Q5 and Q7 hybrid programs. If there are more up! production delays, Audi may may a plan B. According to another bite-sized article in Car Magazine Online, Audi is also considering reviving its A2 (R.I.P. 2005) with an aluminum space frame (ASF) and stuffing it full of batteries. With all Audi's indecision though, a more sure bet may be Volkswagen making an electric Volkswagen.

[Source: Car Magazine Online]

We've heard rumors that Volkswagen would be going against the concept up!'s rear-engine and rear-wheel drive architecture, and it now appears that those earlier rumblings are indeed true. That's a big knock against the retro-theme that attracted many to the concept in the first place. After all, countless numbers of individuals were first introduced to the VW brand via the iconic Beetle, which, of course, had it's engine hanging off the rear and driving those wheels. VW CEO Martin Winterkorn says, "Our engineers favored a rear engine and fought until the end for that solution." Those dang accountants ruined the fun again.

A front-wheel drive architecture will undoubtedly lower the cost of the vehicle's development as it will allow for a much larger use of already-designed parts and will surely let VW use architecture from its Lupo small car. Still, that platform-sharing doesn't seem to be speeding up the development too much as it is now five full months behind schedule.

Hatchback, minivan and sedan versions of the platform are expected to begin sales in Europe in 2011, a full two years after rivals such as the Fiat Topolino and Toyota's iQ model are to go on sale. We have hopes that the up! will make it stateside, though the new FWD format surely makes them considerably less compelling to many eyes, ours included.


[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

Volkswagen has committed to building a family of small cars based on the up! concepts that debuted at auto shows in fall 2007. What they haven't yet committed to is a location for building those cars. Right now the leading contender in Europe appears to be the Skoda factory in Vrchlabi, Czech Republic. The up! based cars will be sold in several styles and under several VW Group brands. The basic version is intended as a city car that offers more utility than competitors like the Smart ForTwo. VW wants the up! to be able to accomodate four adults comfortably when needed although it will primarily be used for two occupants. With two people aboard, the up will still offer plenty of room for luggage for a trip or groceries. Because of the entry level segment the up! will compete in, VW needs a low cost source for the car, which is why the Skoda plant is currently favored.

[Source: Ward's Auto World]

A decade on from its revival, it has been unclear whether Volkswagen would ever build successor to the New Beetle. After all, how do follow up such an iconic retro shape? It now appears that Volkswagen may not only build a new New Beetle, but also expand the lineup into a mini-brand of its own. The sixth-generation Golf is set to debut in 2009 and its platform could be the basis for the next New Bug around 2010-11. Motor Trend is even speculating that it might be available with a hybrid powertrain. Based on the success of unique-looking hybrids like the Prius, a hybrid-only Beetle would actually make sense from a marketing perspective. A second potential vehicle could be a bug-shaped car based on the up! concept that debuted last year. Recent rumors had the production up! switching from the concept's rear-engine layout to a more conventional front-engine, front-drive setup. If they do keep the engine out back, a Beetle based on this platform truly would be a successor to the original.



[Source: Motor Trend, via Autoblog]