Volkswagen is fulfilling their promise to bring more electric vehicles to market: the e-Golf is coming to Canada for the first time next year. The all-electric Golf will be available beginning in mid-2017.
The e-Golf is getting a freshening up before it arrives here, and part of that effort is a new 36 kWh lithium-ion battery. That's 50 percent bigger than the current car and translates to a range of over 200 km on a full charge. On the European cycle it gets 300 km, but that test is more generous than the North American standard. The motor gets an upgrade as well and produces 134 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque.
Other changes include LED head- and tail-lights along with refreshed bumpers and bodywork that sees some small aerodynamic tweaks unique to the electric model. The interior gets a new 9.2-inch touchscreen and VW's "Virtual Cockpit" digital instrument panel. Volkswagen Canada says that the car will come with "a host of cold weather-related features" but does not elaborate on what they might be. Expect heated seats and steering wheel to be the biggest part of that.
The revised e-Golf will receive some new driver assistance systems, including forward collision warning with emergency braking, pedestrian monitoring, and available active cruise control, lane guidance, and park assist.
The revised e-Golf is part of Volkswagen's plan to launch 30 VW Group electric vehicles by 2025. Full details of the car will be available at the Canadian debut at the Montreal Auto Show in January.