A pre-production Golf Blue-e-Motion electric vehicle has won its class in the RAC Future Car Challenge for the second time, using the least energy to cover a 57-mile route from Brighton’s Madeira Drive to Pall Mall in the heart of London. The Golf was named the Most Energy Efficient Regular Car (Prototype) class.

Powered by lithium-ion batteries, the Golf Blue-e-Motion has an electric motor with a range of around 100 miles in normal conditions. It can reach a top speed of 86 mph and accelerate from rest to 62 mph in 11.8 seconds.  

The car features battery regeneration that can activate when the accelerator is released and during the initial travel of the brake pedal. This reduces the amount of energy that would otherwise be wasted during driving.  Despite its unconventional motive power the Golf Blue-e-Motion appears like any other Golf with space for five adults and a slightly reduced boot volume of 279 litres.

On arrival in London the Golf Blue-e-Motions had their data recorders removed by the RAC scrutineers and then joined the Passat BlueMotion plus all the other competing vehicles for a display in the centre of London as part of the inaugural Regent Street Motor Show.

A production version of the Golf Blue-e-Motion is planned to be introduced to the market in late 2013.  For more information on the Volkswagen range visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.