The chance of Opel ever turning a profit with the Ampera range-extended EV just dropped significantly today, as Volkswagen just launched its very own electric compact in Germany for the relatively reasonable price of €34,900.
This electric family compact is powered by an electric motor that produces 85 kW (115 PS) and 270 Nm of torque, about the same as your average 1.6 TDI. This allows it to go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 10.4 seconds (who's ever going to floor it?) and offer an electronically limited top speed of 140 km/h.
Performance isn't bad, but it's the efficiency that impresses us. Running the car for 100 km can cost as little at €3.28 at today's changing rates while the range can be anywhere between 81 miles (130 km) and 118 miles (190 km). By comparison, the i3 electric car averages 100 miles on a charge. Volkswagen also offers the e-Golf as with a comprehensive 8-year or 160,000-km guarantee on the battery.
At almost €35,000, the e-Golf is more expensive than a Golf GTI and costs about as much as a Passat Variant. But standard kit is very good. You get full-LED headlights, a unique set of C-shaped daytime running lights, automatic climate control, navigation, a DSG-style gear selector stick wrapped in leather and a leather steering wheel.
Performance isn't bad, but it's the efficiency that impresses us. Running the car for 100 km can cost as little at €3.28 at today's changing rates while the range can be anywhere between 81 miles (130 km) and 118 miles (190 km). By comparison, the i3 electric car averages 100 miles on a charge. Volkswagen also offers the e-Golf as with a comprehensive 8-year or 160,000-km guarantee on the battery.
At almost €35,000, the e-Golf is more expensive than a Golf GTI and costs about as much as a Passat Variant. But standard kit is very good. You get full-LED headlights, a unique set of C-shaped daytime running lights, automatic climate control, navigation, a DSG-style gear selector stick wrapped in leather and a leather steering wheel.