Volkswagen Twin Up! hybrid concept unveiled at Tokyo Motor Show 2013

Volkswagen's city car Up! now has a hybrid sibling - the Twin Up! concept. The car was unveiled at the ongoing Tokyo Motor Show.

The Twin Up! hybrid is powered by a 0.8-liter 2-cylinder TDI engine that is mated to an electric motor.

The Twin Up! is powered by a 0.8-liter 2-cylinder TDI engine that is mated to an electric motor. The diesel is good for 47.6PS of power and 119Nm of peak torque, while the electric motor makes another 47PS. This generates a combined output of 75PS of power and 215Nm of max torque. Power is taken to the front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The drivetrain is front-mounted and the 8.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, 12 V battery and 33-litre fuel tank are all located between the rear seats and the boot.

In hybrid mode, the car reaches an electronically limited top speed of 140kmph and returns around 109kmpl of efficiency

Volkswagen claims that the Twin Up! accelerates from 0-100kmph in 15.7 seconds. In hybrid mode, the car reaches an electronically limited top speed of 140kmph and returns around 109kmpl of efficiency. CO2 emission numbers stand at a miniscule 27g/km. An e-mode function allows the car to be purely electrically propelled up to a distance of 31 miles and speeds up to 123kmph.

The Twin Up! borrows numerous elements from the futuristic XL1 but also incorporates modifications to counter the small car's added weight. The Twin Up! weighs in at around 1205kg. Other mechanicals include aerodynamic tweaks to improve efficiency, a decoupling clutch between the diesel and electric units to allow electric-only operation and regenerative braking.

The Twin Up! borrows numerous elements from the futuristic XL1 but also incorporates modifications to counter the small car's added weight

Externally, the Twin Up! takes from the all-electric e-Up!, which also has the flowing blue double stripes above the sills. The 'sparkling white' paintjob includes blue flakes to create a pattern. The interiors have off-white 'ceramic' colour, with a fabric and leather combination upholstery, garnished by blue piping and reflective strips on the seats' centre panels.

The visual image and content of the instruments change according to the vehicle's driving mode (hybrid or all-electric)

The bespoke instrument panel is digital. The visual image and content of the instruments change according to the vehicle's driving mode (hybrid or all-electric).  In hybrid mode the accents are white, while in electric mode they are blue. The central infotainment screen is configurable by the user and a digital automatic climate control makes its debut in a Volkswagen. It uses Active Matrix Organic LED (AMOLED) displays.

Although there is no official announcement yet, Volkswagen could be looking at mass producing this hybrid.