Volkswagen to reveal new electric concept at CES

Volkswagen will reveal an all-new electric concept car at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January. The company claims the new concept heralds the introduction of longer-distance and cheaper electric motoring.

VW's offering will be showcased alongside several other all-electric concept cars, including new concepts from Audi and the mysterious $1bn California-based Faraday Future.

They also say that the concept will "illustrate the major changes the car is set to go through in the next few years", adding: "The world premiere marks the beginning of a new era of affordable, long-distance electro-mobility."

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The image released by VW teases the upcoming design of the new concept but critics are divided as to what the end product could be.

Autocar believes that VW's concept car will be a rebirth of the VW Microbus, but in electric form. They claim that the concept could demonstrate an all-new electric powertrain capable of giving the Microbus a range between 250-310 miles.

According to the magazine, the electric Microbus will serve as an introduction to a production version, which will be offered with conventional petrol and diesel engines from 2017.

American magazine Car and Driver also mentions the Microbus angle. "Legions of VW fans have been waiting for a proper Microbus replacement for years," it says.

Analysing the picture, the magazine says it is a "stretch" to call the teaser image a Microbus, but highlights evidence that a production Microbus is on the way.

However, Auto Express reports that the concept we will see in January will be wholly new. It says VW bosses have hinted that plans to introduce a concept car based on their last concept Microbus, the Bulli, revealed at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, have been scrapped.

According to Car Magazine, VW will use the announcement of cheaper and more efficient electric motoring as a way to fight back against the emissions scandal.

The 2016 Consumer Electronics Show takes place from 6 to 9 January.