In the last edition of In The Loop, we brought you news of Tesla’s first foray into two wheels, a balance bike for kids. This fortnight it’s Volkswagen’s turn, with the German auto giant entering the e-Bike market.
Built under licence in partnership with premium manufacturer n+, the Volkswagen Sport is believed to be the world's first e-Bike with an integrated rear-view camera wired to a dashboard display.
Another standout feature is side lighting on the top tube, a yellow LED light bar built into the frame that should dramatically assist low-light visibility. The light bar runs solid or illuminates to signal a turn. There are also front and rear lights and brake lights.
Another safety feature is ‘Smart View’ - rear radar-assisted traffic monitoring that's similar to systems offered by Garmin, Trek and MagicShine.
The handlebar screen displays that radar information along with speed, battery details, range, time of day and power assist mode.
Security-wise, the bike features an in-built 85-decibel alarm and is compatible with Apple’s Find My technology.
Power comes from a Yamaha PW-X3 mid-drive motor and features 85Nm of torque from a unit weighing 2.75kg.
In addition to the bike, the company has released a companion ‘Smart Helmet' which features a front daytime running light and includes built-in crash detection. They’ve also launched 'Volkswagen Smart Glasses’ with a heads-up display, radar-activated blind-spot alerts, and the ability to relay turn-by-turn navigation from a paired phone.
Pricing for the Volkswagen Sport e-Bike starts at around $4,500 AUD. However, while n+ have previously sold Mercedes-branded e-bikes in Australia, it’s unknown if the Volkswagen will be shipped to our shores.
Specifications
Sizes: S, M, L
Power: 250W Yamaha PW-X3 Mid-Drive Motor, 36V, 85Nm
Battery (down tube): 36V, 490Wh removable clamshell battery for up to a 162km range
Battery (optional pannier rack): 36V, 814Wh rack-mounted removable battery — up to 269km additional range
Frame: 6061 aluminium alloy
Drivetrain: Shimano U4000 Cues 9-speed, chain drive, 42T 1x chainring, 11–36T cassette
Fork: 6061 aluminium alloy
Brakes: Tektro dual-piston hydraulic, 180mm front and rear rotors
Wheels & tyres: 27.5", 36H alloy wheelset, 27.5 x 2.2" urban tyres
Handlebar: Aluminium alloy 6061 integrated handlebar and stem with full-colour 3.5" Volkswagen display
Seat post: 6061 aluminium alloy with quick-release seat clamp
Saddle: 143mm width, with cutout
Lighting: Front and rear illuminated Volkswagen emblems, 100 lux headlamp, 4cd taillight, top-tube integrated smart LED strip lights
Safety: Rear mudguard-integrated radar and camera, Volkswagen Smart Helmet
Security: 85dB alarm, Apple Find My integration
Navigation: Volkswagen Smart Glasses
Finishing kit: Front and rear mudguards, kickstand, bell, chain guard, reflectors, battery charger, toolkit
Paint: Volkswagen Flat White (custom paint options coming soon)
Weight: 27.5kg (size M)