| New technology | Volkswagen Golf Twin Drive |
The Golf Twin Drive is the first all-electric car from Volkswagen and points to the future of the German firm's environmental plans. It uses a lithium-ion battery mounted in the boot, which powers a 174bhp electric motor that drives the front wheels.
VW says the Golf Twin Drive can run for up to 30 miles on battery power alone. There is also a small internal combustion engine that is used to recharge the battery and VW reckons the Twin Drive will have a range of more than 150 miles.
Economy with the Twin Drive is equivalent to 90mpg and VW says performance is similar to a standard 1.6-litre Golf's even though the Twin Drive is heavier. No word on when we can expect to see a production model, but VW insiders hint that it will be within the next three years.
Alisdair Suttie - 27 Jun 2008