news

Volkswagen e-Beetle debuts e-Up’s updated drivetrain

The Volkswagen e-Beetle concept will make its debut next week at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show, and is powered by a version of the updated drivetrain which will soon grace the e-Up in Europe.


In adopting the electric powertrain, the e-Beetle adopts the same front-engine, front-wheel drive layout as the e-Up.

Weighing 1280 kilograms and powered by a 60kW electric motor connected to a single-speed transmission, the e-Beetle can reportedly hit 80km/h in just over eight seconds, and top speed is said to be 150km/h.

Equipped with 36.8-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the e-Beetle has a claimed range of around 200 kilometres. Using a fast charger the e-Beetle's battery can be topped up to 80 per cent in about an hour.

By comparison, the revised e-Up has a 61kW motor hooked up to a 32.3kWh battery pack, a significant step up from the current car's 18.7kWh unit.

Volkswagen says the e-Up can complete the 0-100km/h standard in 11.9s, hit a top speed of 130km/h, and has a 260km driving range.

The conversion work for the e-Beetle concept was done by eClassics, a company based in Renningen, near Stuttgart in Germany, and previews a package it will put on sale in the near future.

Thomas Schmall, head of Volkswagen Group Components, says the two companies are already working on an e-Kombi, and may make an electric version of the Porsche 356 in the future.

These cars could use components from the MEB platform, which underpins the upcoming Volkswagen ID.3. Should this be the case, future classic car conversions could have greatly improved performance and range.

Chat with us!







Chat with Agent