Volkswagen has announced pricing for the all-electric e-UP!, which is on sale from today with prices starting at £19,250 (including £5,000 Government grant or £24,250 on the road).

Based exclusively on the five door up! city car, the e-UP! comes in one high-specification trim level.

The e-UP! is powered by a 82bhp electric motor with 210Nm of torque. The 18.7kWh lithium ion battery pack offers a range of up to 93 miles in optimum conditions, and a standard full charge takes less than nine hours from a standard 230-Volt.

The e-UP! has a top speed of 81 mph, 0-37 mph comes in 4.9 seconds, and a 0-62 mph in 12.4 seconds.

The e-UP! has two economy profiles as standard: ‘Eco’ and ‘Eco+’. ‘Eco’ cuts the vehicle’s peak power to 50 kW, reduces the output of the air conditioning system and modifies the throttle response. ‘Eco+’ limits maximum power to 40 kW, further modifies the throttle response and disables the air conditioning.

The range of the e-UP! can be greatly influenced by regenerative braking.

From the standard model the e-UP! is distinguished with badges on the front wings and bootlid, as well as by distinctive C-shaped LED daytime running lights, 15-inch ‘Tezzle’ alloy wheels, while the interior features bespoke upholstery edged in blue, leather-covered steering wheel, gearlever and handbrake with blue stitching.

Standard specification includes heated front seats, cruise control, Maps and More navigation system, heated windscreen, DAB digital radio with six-speaker Sound Pack, City Emergency Braking system, rear parking sensors and an electronic climate control system.

The standard VW up! is already a very fuel efficient vehicle with a starting price of £8,265 so the e-up” with a starting price of £19,250 clearly will be a niche vehicle.