Volkswagen introduces a freshened 2017 e-Golf with a bigger battery

The most important change is in the battery. A new 35.8 kWh unit gives this e-Golf an improved range of 200 km, as opposed to the former model's 133 km range. Volkswagen also offers a DC fast charging system as an option on the base SE model, and a standard feature on the SEL Premium model. This allows the e-Golf to get an 80 percent charge in an hour at a DC fast charger.

VW gave the e-Golf a bit of extra pep, too. The motor now makes an more power and torque with totals of 134 horsepower and 214 lb-ft of twist. Volkswagen claims this allows the 2017 e-Golf to get to 100 km/h more than a second faster at 9.6 seconds.

As with the rest of the Golf range, the e-Golf has slightly updated front and rear fascias, and new lights. The interior also looks roughly the same, but gets new infotainment features. The e-Golf gets the new Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, which integrates the car's various instruments into a 12.3-inch screen ahead of the driver. It also gets a 9.2-inch touchscreen in the center stack, which will eventually be offered with gesture controls, sometime in the next two years. Volkswagen also did not give dates for availability of the new e-Golf or how much it will cost.