Volkswagen Rolls Out Electric Beetle

Volkswagen made a splash at the IAA autoshow, unveiling the E-Up, a fully-electric compact car that the company's hailing as the "Beetle of the 21st century," Fast Company reports. Its stats are fairly impressive, at least for an electric: the E-Up can accelerate relatively quickly and hit a top speed of 84 mph, so even though VW's dubbing it a "city specialist," it can handle highways if need be.

The original Beetle, though best known for its quirky design, was hailed as a car that could transport a family quickly and affordably. The E-Up hits all those criteria, right down to the odd design, which seems obligatory for electrics at this point. The car will most likely roll out in 2013, with production ramping up until it equals the rest of Volkswagen's line.
(More Volkswagen stories.)