Volkswagen is dead serious about its future electric plans. The automaker wants to re-position itself as a leader in the hybrid and EV segment and is working, alone or in cooperation with other companies, on several green projects.

In an otherwise boring press release highlighting the marque's recent developments, Volkswagen has quietly presented the Gen.E research prototype – a vehicle that is telling us a lot about the brand's electric future and could be previewing the next generation Golf.

But first things first – Volkswagen says the research vehicle "provides an insight into the next generation of automobiles for efficient long-distance mobility with a range of more than 249 miles (400 kilometers)" – NEDC, we assume. The shape of the port on the hood has two sockets, which suggests the concept could be charged at home, on fast-three phase chargers, and at ultra-fast DC public stations via standard CCS connection. In fact, Volkswagen says it is cooperatively developing mobile charging robots that will be used in underground garages to "connect up the automobile for recharging."