Over the next few years, we're going to see many new battery-powered models going on sale, be that with pure electric drivetrains like the BMW i3 or EV's with a range extender such as the Cadillac ELR Coupe.
Along with carmakers, automotive designers are also preparing for the things to come. Erik Sætre, a Norwegian Industrial design-engineering student who is currently doing an exchange year at the UK's Coventry University, sent CarScoop a concept study he created for an all-electric Volkswagen four-door coupe named the Ayoreo.
"The Volkswagen Ayoreo is a coupe designed to enter the EV market in 2013," Sætre tells us. "The goal was to achieve a fairly simple and clean surface language with incorporated industrial elements, like its rear view cameras. A more affordable option than the Tesla S, but hopefully a more appealing one then the Nissan Leaf."
We say another one because Volkswagen itself introduced a very-near production study at this year's edition of the São Paulo International Motor Show in Brazil in October.
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We haven't seen any prototypes on the road yet, but Marcus Classen, a German design student who is pursuing his Master's degree at the Royal College of Art in London, UK, came up with a proposition of what VW's next compact coupe could look like.
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The concept's name in Taigun, which as you have probably already guessed, is an anagram of "Tiguan", VW's SUV proposal in the compact segment.
The German company makes no effort to hide the fact that the Taigun not only resembles the styling but is also technically based on its New Small Family models represented by the Up! city cars, adding that if it were to be produced, it would round out the range "in an upward direction".
The Taigun is 3,859 mm (151.9in.) long, 1,728 mm (43.9 in.) wide and 1,570 mm (39.9 in) tall, which makes it significantly smaller not only from the Tiguan (4,432 mm or 174.5 in. long), but even the Nissan Juke (4,125mm or 162.4 in. long).
The two-seater model was presented as a concept last year and is now heading for very limited run production starting from next year - if all goes according to plan. VW's engineers were filmed in Spain completing new tests with the car as they prepare for its introduction.
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The German automaker even released a launch date: the new Golf GTI in both three- and five-door body styles will go on sale in mainland Europe in early 2013 and in the UK next summer (no word yet on when it will arrive in North America).
The new GTI stands out from lesser versions of the Golf thanks to its honeycomb grille (first introduced in the Mk5) with double red-stipe accents, the smoked LED rear lights and license plate illumination, the red brake calipers behind the five-spoke alloy wheels and the 80 mm diameter tailpipes with a chrome finish.
Much like the Golf GTI study that will join the rest of the range at VW's stand, there's nothing really conceptual about the Golf BlueMotion, sans the informational stickers on the side of the car, as it too will go on sale in Europe next summer.
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Much like the previous model that was displayed in concept form at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, the new Golf GTI is also going to be shown as a near-production study. What this means is that that the car's looks and mechanicals will remain virtually unchanged when it goes on sale next year starting with Europe in spring.
Volkswagen's new hot hatch incorporates all the traditional design cues of the series like the honeycomb upper and lower front grilles with red accents, which now extend to the angular headlamps, five spoke alloy wheels wrapped in beefy tires, and two large exhaust pipes split far.
The darkened tail lamps, rear diffuser in black, a discreet roof spoiler, the LED headlamps and the new black trim on the front bumper round out the visual changes on the outside.
Inside, you will find classic tartan upholstery covering the body-hugging sport seats along with black piano trim décor, and red stitching applied on the flat-bottom sports steering wheel and the transmission lever.
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While no photos were released, VW outlined the highlights of the seventh generation of the Golf hatchback that will go on sale in Europe this November with the rest of the world to follow shortly after.
As we have mentioned many times in the past, the Golf VII is based on the VW Group's brand new MQB platform shared with the also new 2013 Audi A3 and Seat Leon.
The new Golf measures 4,255mm (167.5-inches) in length, 1799mm (70.8-inches) in width and 1452mm (57.2-inches) in height, making it 56mm (2.2-in.) longer and 13mm (0.5-in.) wider but also 28mm (1.1-in.) lower than the current model. It also rides on a 59mm (2.3-in) longer wheelbase and wider front (8mm / 0.3-in.) and rear (6mm / 0.2-in) tracks.
Now, only a few days before the show airs on television, VW and Discovery Channel released a new video that contains scenes from the presentation of the submersible and drivable Beetle cage at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel as well as from the show itself.
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Though not as famous as its namesake in Austria, which is by far the largest gathering of Volkswagen enthusiasts in the world, this year's edition of the Southern Wörthersee Tour was attended by some 8,200 visitors in 3,800 cars.
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Key styling changes include the matte grey hood with honeycomb decals that also appear on the car's profile, new black rims, LED headlamps, and a black and red themed interior.
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What makes this study special - aside from the fact that it promises to be faster than the Golf GTI, is that the German company confirmed that it previews a production model due for launch in late 2013.
As you have probably already guessed by know, the Polo R WRC Street is inspired by the company's entry in the World Rally Championship starting from 2013.
Whereas the racing Polo R WRC sports a 1.6-liter TSI engine with 295hp (300PS), the road-going prototype makes use of the VW Group's tried and tested 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine rated at 217-horsepower (220PS), or 10-horsepower more than the Golf GTI.
The prototype that Volkswagen chose to exhibit in the video is the Hover Car, which is a concept for a two-seater, circular shaped vehicle that uses electromagnetic levitation to float just above the regular road network.
Jump past the break to see the VW Hover Car concept in action.
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The three vehicles and technology concepts created by users and further developed by the German automaker that went on display at the Auto China 2012 in Beijing are the Hover Car, the Music Car and the Smart Key.
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The Alltrack is based on the facelifted version of the European market Passat Estate, and not the North American model built at VW's manufacturing facility in Chattanooga.
The German firm makes it pretty clear that the Alltrack is just a showcar for now to gauge market reaction to a potential future model similar in size that "combines offroad ability with wagon versatility".
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The two carbon fibre kayaks are mounted to the cargo floor while the paddles are latched on the inside surface of the tailgate.
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For starters, the Geneva concept gets a two-tone red and silver exterior paint work but it's what's hiding under the hood that justifies its existence.
Whereas the Cross Coupé shown in Tokyo features a plug-in petrol-electric hybrid system the newer versions replaces the TSI gasoline engine with an even more frugal turbodiesel four-cylinder unit with direct injection.
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Though you may have a hard time figuring it out just by looking at it, the Swiss Up! pays tribute to the hosts of the motor show. It supposedly does so by adopting the basic red color of the Swiss flag in its ‘tornado red’ exterior paint together with white ‘porcelain paint’ accents on the door mirror housings and wheel caps.
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