German carmaker Volkswagen AG said it would unveil several new models at the Frankfurt Auto Show, including an electric car called the E-Up. At a reception before the start of the show last evening, the company said the E-Up compact would likely only go into production in 2013 and approach production levels of that of its other popular compact cars only by 2020.

The company said the front wheel drive car's lithium ion battery will have 18 kilowatt hours energy capacity enabling a driving distance of around 130 kilometres, or about 80 miles, depending on driving style.