VW's world premier at CES will mark "a new era of affordable long-distance electromobility."
Volkswagen has released a teaser image of an all-new "concept" vehicle it plans to unveil at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next month.
According to a company release, VW's world premier at CES will mark "a new era of affordable long-distance electromobility."
But media speculation points more specifically to an electrified Microbus, a kind of modern homage to the popular, bug-eyed camper vans of the 1960s, which are still seen on the roads from time to time, especially near music festivals.
British publication Autocar reports that VW will preview a production version Microbus that will be built at the German automaker's plant in Mexico beginning in 2017.
The drivetrain will reportedly be derived from VW's lithium-ion battery technology now found in the Audi R8 E-Tron, and will give an electric range of 250-310 miles.
The CES is Jan. 6-9. It is not immediately clear if the vehicle VW is unveiling in Las Vegas will make an appearance at the 2016 North America Auto Show, just a few days later in Detroit.
VW, which has been embroiled in a diesel emissions scandal in the U.S., is only the latest automaker that appears to be reasserting its commitment to electrified vehicle technology.
Ford Motor Co. announced last week that it is investing $4.5 billion in EV technology, and plans to add 13 new EVs to its lineup by 2020.
David Muller is the automotive and business reporter for MLive Media Group in Detroit. Email him at dmuller@mlive.com, follow him on Twitter or find him on Facebook.