TRIALS of an electric Volkswagen Golf will start next year as the German car steps up its plans for zero emission vehicles.
The Golf blue-e-motion is slated to go into production in 2013 and 500 prototypes will be undergoing tests during 2011.
The car was unveiled in front of German government officials as VW outlined its plans to develop electric and hybrid cars which starts this summer with a petrol-electric version of the Touareg 4x4.
The Golf blue-e-motion has an electric motor developing 115 PS which is powered by lithium-ion batteries giving the car a range of around 90 miles.
Top speed is a claimed 86mph with 0 to 60mph acceleration in under 12 seconds.
VW also announced that a hybrid Jetta will be launched in 2012 followed by Golf and Passat hybrids in 2013.
The first electric VW will be based on the Up! city car which is due to be launched in 2013 and will be followed by the blue-e-motion Golf and an electric Jetta.
Picture caption: Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, VW director of vehicle development (left) with German traffic minister Dr Peter Ramsauer at the unveiling of the VW Golf blue-e-motion.