VW E-Bugster Takes Off Its Top in China

Volkswagen first showed its E-Bugster concept at the North American International Auto Show in January. It has brought the car back to the Auto Salon China in Beijing but cut the top off to make it a roadster. Like the first E-Bugster concept, this concept is based on the second generation New Beetle with an 85kW (114hp) electric motor. Volkswagen claims that it will accelerate the car to 100km/h in 10.8 seconds.

The E-Bugster uses a 28.3kWh battery that offers a 180km range of urban driving. VW claims that it can be recharged within 35 minutes from one of its quick charging stations. The plug is located behind the conventional fuel door. VW claims that the car's electric motor weighs 80kg to keep weight down and increase range.

The looks of the E-Bugster are cribbed from the Ragster concept that VW showed at the 2005 NAIAS that turned the Beetle into a roadster, but it blends these looks into the new shape of the second generation New Beetle. It terms of a regular Beetle, the E-Bugster sits 90mm lower and is 30mm wider. To further carry on the sports car theme, the E-Bugster sits two passengers with nacelles behind the heads of the passengers. The windshield is also more steeply raked than the standard car. It has also been given LED headlights and more aggressive front air dam. It also wears 20in wheels to fill out the wheel wells a little more than the standard car.

Inside the instruments include a range gauge, battery charge gauge and a gauge that displays in what manner the battery is being charged. Although it is equipped with a standard brake pedal, whenever drivers take their foot off the gas pedal, it immediately begins regenerating power.

VW has no real intention to build the E-Bugster, but it is using it to show off the electric drivetrains that it is developing.