More details about electric versions of the Volkswagen Up! and the Skoda CitiGo emerge!

Even as the Volkswagen Up! hatchback was unveiled in late 2011, there was talk of an electric variant of the car following the petrol model. The same was the case with the Skoda CitiGO, which is basically a rebadged and restyled Volkswagen Up!. Now, we have more details emerging about the electric versions of both the Volkswagen Up! and the Skoda CitiGO hatchbacks. In an interesting move of sorts, both cars will be all electric variants, a variation from the growing tribe of petrol-electric hybrid cars. This means that the electric Up! and the CitiGO would be restricted to being city runabouts at best due to the limited range.

2012 Volkswagen Up! Hatchback

The Up! Electric and the CitiGO Electric will use 18 KwH lithium ion battery stacks powering a 80 Bhp electric motor. The effective range per charge will be about 130 Kms along with a top speed of 130 Kph. While the range is somewhat limited, the decent top speed will mean that these electric cars will be a fair drive around town. Both these cars are scheduled to debut in 2014 with minor restyling to differentiate them from their internal combustion siblings. Talking of which, the Up! and the CitiGO also feature a petrol powered 1 liter engine, with two power options, 59 Bhp and 75 Bhp.

2012 Skoda CitiGo Hatchback

Neither Volkswagen nor Skoda have revealed their plans regarding the Up! and the CitiGo for the Indian market, so much so that both these models weren’t displayed at the recently concluded 2012 Indian Auto Expo. Volkswagen, for its part is said to be currently evaluating whether it could work out costs to bring the Up! to India. That said, the Up! being India bound isn’t a certainty yet. However, both Volkswagen and Skoda, in the past have talked about having an entry level car for the Indian market, and one that is smaller than their current offerings, the Polo and the Fabia. We’ll have to wait and watch to see how it all pans out.

Via AutoBild

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