It’s official: Volkswagen Golf VII Electric to be launched in 2013

 The German based automaker Volkswagen has recently announced that an electric version of the new Golf generation will be launched in late 2013.

According to the car manufacturer, the electric Volkswagen Golf will be named the E-Golf so the company will let go the current Blue-E-Motion name which is used on its eco-friendly concepts. The new generation of the Volkswagen Golf, in its electric version, will be developed on the same new modular platform MQB, which will also underpin future models of the automaker, being also the same one used on the new generation of the Audi A3 which was officially presented to the public during the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Volkswagen says that the MQB platform will allow the manufacturer to use both traditional engines and alternative powertrains in the same position without any major modifications to the structure of the cars. The current Blue-E-Motion Golf Concept is using an electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries placed under the rear seats and below the central tunnel, generating just 115 horsepower and 270 Nm of torque. The model could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.8 seconds before reaching a top speed of 135 horsepower. The weak performance of the electric Golf was caused by the extra 205 kilograms added by the electric powertrain. Besides the E-Golf, VW is also planning a plug-in hybrid version of the popular hatchback which should hit the market in 2015.