This is a guest post written on behalf of Netcars.co.uk – a used car search engine specializing in popular car brands including used Volkswagen, Ford, BMW, Mini, Audi and more.

With electric and hybrid vehicles taking more sales off the combustion engine every day, Volkswagen has finally decided to join the party with the Golf Blue-e-motion. While the name may be slightly suspect, the technology certainly won’t be. VW knows it has to contend with established electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, and that is why the Bavarian brand is taking its time to make sure the Golf Blue-e-motion is ahead of the competition.

The plan is to bring an electric vehicle to the market in 2014 and while that may seem a while off yet, VW has announced that the Golf Blue-e-motion prototype currently has a range of around 93 miles; the conglomerate expects that battery technology will be far more advanced by 2013.

Performance figures are typical small engine hatch – 0-62 comes in at 11.8 seconds and while the top speed hasn’t been announced, we would imagine it’ll be less than 90mph. So, if speed is what you’re after then Golf Blue-e-motion isn’t the car for you, but if it’s German build quality and ultra-low running costs that tickle your fancy, then it may well be perfect.

The Golf will also feature a clever F1 style regenerative braking system with four different settings. This will allow the electric battery to be recharged while cruising down a hill or when braking. Three different ‘driving modes’ will be available to change the way in which the car drives – Normal, Comfort+ and Range+. Similar to the Honda CR-Z modes, each function will alter how the cars’ electric battery operates.

While the Golf Blue-e-motion is still in prototype guise, it’s best to point out that the model shown at the Detroit Auto Show won’t be the car that sits proudly on your drive. By 2014 a new Golf design will be with us and it is that shape that will feature the Blue-e-motion’s clever eco technology. It’s a long time to wait for a car, but VW is one of the biggest manufacturers in the world, so you can rest assured that they will be as pedantic as humanly possible with the design of the aforementioned.