The Volkswagen twin up! concept car is a hybrid version of VW's ever popular city car and uses an 800ccm two-cylinder turbo-diesel engine in conjunction with a 27 kW electric motor and seven-speed DSG gearbox to provide ultimate city car economy. The twin up! is able to reach a combined fuel consumption figure of 256.8 mpg.
The twin up! diesel and electric drivetrain is a version of the that found in the pioneering XL1. A decoupling clutch between the diesel and electric motors allows the electric motor to operate independently. Provided that there is sufficient battery charge, the driver can press the e-mode button for emissions-free driving. On electric power alone the twin up! can operate at speeds of 77 mph, and accelerate from zero to 37 mph in 8.8 seconds. The range on batteries alone is up to 31 miles. When braking, the electric motor acts as a generator, and the braking energy is used to charge the battery, under appropriate conditions the TDI engine can be used to charge the battery too.
The twin up!'s diesel engine and electric motor each produce up to 35 kW, while the maximum system power output of the twin up!'s front-mounted drivetrain is 55 kW. Using diesel and electric motors together, the car can accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 15.7 seconds, and on to a top speed of 87 mph. Combined torque peaks at 215 Nm. All this combined with good aerodynamics (0.30 Cd), a low unladen weight (1,205 kg) despite the addition of the lithium-ion batteries and 165/65 R15 tyres optimised for low rolling resistance all help to maximise the twin up!'s efficiency, and to achieve the 256.8 mpg combined fuel consumption figure and 27 g/km CO2 emissions.
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