One of the most sought-after concepts at this year’s North American International Auto Show is the all-electric Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept, based on the New Beetle Ragster Concept that VW showcased at the same Detroit’s event in 2006. The model is powered by an electric motor producing 114 hp and 269 Nm (199 ft-lb) of peak torque, and fed by a 315 kg lithium-ion battery package stored under trunk floor and rear seats. The charging port is located under the VW logo at the front, and is compatible with all three types of available chargers: Level 1 (120V), Level 2 (240V), and Level 3 (quick charge), through which 80% charge can be reached in just 30 minutes. The model is credited with a range of 160 km (100 miles)

Aesthetically, the E-Bugster is also a pretty interesting evolution of the classic Beetle design, with an upper body featuring a low, flat roof (E-Bugster’s roofline is nearly 3″ lower than the Beetle’s) and no rear windows, LED daytime running lights integrated in the front bumper that form a quite captivating graphic effect (mirrored by the reflectors on the rear) and 20″ alloys that remind us of the old Beetle of the 70s/80s. In the cabin we have a white leather-dominated interior, but the only significant change in comparison to the usual Beetle’s layout is the revised instrumentation.

By clicking on the links below you can access E-Bugster’s official photo gallery released by VW and some shots our friends from Autoblog.it has taken right at VW’s booth in Detroit. To find out more about the new Beetle, check out the official Press Release after the jump.

View the full Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept at the 2012 NAIAS photo gallery
View the full Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept photo gallery

E-BUGSTER CONCEPT MAKES WORLD DEBUT AT 2012 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

Two-seater concept blends iconic Beetle styling with zero-emissions motoring

• Latest addition to the Blue-e-motion™ family of concept cars
• Powered by a 114-horsepower electric motor and a lithium-ion battery
• Low roofline and unique styling make E-Bugster stand out

Herndon, VA - Volkswagen’s iconic Beetle has been redefined for the 21st century. Now, it has been further reinvented as a concept car for the future: the pure electric E-Bugster.

What’s in a Name?

The name “E-Bugster” is a combination of “E” for electric, “Bug,” the American nickname for the Beetle, and “speedster,” which typically describes an open-top two-seater. Although the E-Bugster concept is clearly not a convertible, it sports the typical speedster profile of shallow windows and a low, dramatic roofline.

Blue-e-motion for a Cleaner Future

At the electric heart of the E-Bugster is an electric motor that makes 114 horsepower (85 kW) and 199 pound-feet of torque. A lithium-ion battery enables the car to go more than 100 miles in zero emissions driving. Stored under the trunk floor and the rear bench, the battery weighs 695 pounds. The battery is recharged via a plug interface located underneath the hood’s VW logo and can accommodate all three types of available chargers: Level 1 (120V), Level 2 (240V), and, where available, Level 3 (quick charge, 80 percent charge in 30 minutes). Holistically, Volkswagen calls the electric drive unit used in the E-Bugster “Blue-e-motion,” and it will be found in future products such as the Golf Blue-e-Motion.

Unique Design

In addition to being a study in pure-electric mobility, the E-Bugster is also a dynamic study in Beetle design. Up front, the E-Bugster’s flat and wide windshield is distinctive. The E-Bugster utilizes LED Daytime Running Lights, just like the production Beetle, except that here they form a distinctive graphic on either side of the lower air intake in the front bumper. This LED graphic is mirrored by reflectors in the rear bumper. Ever since the e-up! concept car was presented in Europe, these unique DRLs have become a signature element on Volkswagen electric vehicle studies.

From the side, the E-Bugster’s low, flat roof serves to frame the rest of the vehicle’s distinctive features. Between its flared fenders and 20-inch wheels, there’s a distinctive Beetle “V” that runs along the side of the vehicle. Above its side sill, a decal with the “E-Bugster” signature can be seen. Just above this point, the chrome has been lengthened from the lower window border towards the rear of the car. The top of the E-Bugster extends in a flat arch over this chrome line and borders the vehicle’s side windows. The height between the chrome lower edge of these windows and the uppermost roof line is tight, like a chopped-down speedster. Overall, the Bugster is nearly three inches lower than a Beetle.

EV-specific instrumentation

A unique exterior look isn’t all that sets the E-Bugster apart from the production Beetle; it also sports EV-specific gauges inside. The traditional tachometer has been replaced with an energy consumption display that fluctuates with vehicle acceleration. Other instrumentation includes a driving range indicator, a display showing the battery’s charge state, and a display that shows the driver the intensity of battery regeneration.

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