VW says Up! yours with ‘the people’s car’.
Finally VW has recreated a modern day ‘people’s car’ with the diminutive Up! city car.
Making its debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September, the Up takes design cues from the 2007 Up concept. Although this showcased a rear-engined, rear-drive layout, the production car sticks with a more conventional transverse, front-mounted engine and front-wheel drive.
With a simple two-box silhouette and distinctive design flourishes such as large front bumpers and angular headlights, the Up is a more expressive interpretation of the recent VW design language. Finally some character in the German family.
At 3540mm long, 1640mm wide and 1480mm high, the Up is shorter and narrower than a three-door Polo. VW claims it has been able to provide the new car with class-leading levels of interior space through the use of a 2420mm wheelbase that provides the Up with ultra-short overhangs. With seating for four adults, the Up also offers 251 litres of luggage space, extending to 951 litres with the rear seats folded.
Launch trim levels include the entry-level Take Up, a more comfort-orientated Move Up and the range-topping High Up. There will also be two special models based on the high up: up! black and up! white.
The model will be sold with a new turbocharged 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine producing 59bhp, or 74bhp. A five-speed manual gearbox is standard, with an automated clutchless ’box offered. We expect a plug-in electric Up in late 2013, but the real disappointment in no news on a small clean diesel. Like the much-underrated Audi A2, we just hope that VW doesn’t rob UK buyers of a small oil burner.
What is sure it that the latest model is VW’s way of saying ‘Up yours’ to the city car class, in its quest for global sales domination.
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