Volkswagen NUVe
Volkswagen’s brand image took a hammer
blow with the diesel emission manipulation scandal. Considered as the biggest
in the history of automobile industry, the German manufacturer installed
‘defeat device’ software that would falsify the exhaust gas emission during
tests.
They were disposed by Toyota to second
in the global market and thus losing the leader position worldwide. To get back
the lost fame, there is something more substantial and ground-breaking needed
from them and we could see where they are heading towards seeking revival.
Following the massive recalls in the
agenda, the Wolfsburg-based automaker is switching its focus towards electric
vehicles. Hot on its heels, Volkswagen has been reported to be working on an
electric car to rival intentionally against the BMW i3. Auto Bild said the EV
is named as NUVe and it will make global premiere at the forthcoming Paris
Motor Show in October.
The report went on to state that the new model
will be based on the MEB chassis (Modular Electrification Kit) which is
specially built to accommodate electric vehicles in different ranges for the
Volkswagen and presumably the brands coming under its group. The platform was
on display alongside the Volkswagen BUDD-E concept at the 2016 CES (Consumer
Electronics Show) in Las Vegas.
The electric vehicle platform enables
for a flat-floor type battery which provides more cabin space than the current
generation Passat and E-Golf. Like most of the versatile architectures
developed by Volkswagen, the new platform will act as a basis for the compact
electric vehicles to come out of the brand. It will play a significant role in
the creation of EVs from the Volkswagen AG as well.
NUVe, the BMW i3’s competitor, is
believed to be introduced in foreign markets by 2019 with a price expected to
start from US$ 40,000. It is speculated to be more fuel economical
than the i3 with a much better electric range. The NUVe project is said to be
the first of six concept to be constructed off the MEB platform and four of them
are likely to be rolled out of production in the future.
