Volkswagen reveals production plans for new up! minicar family
December 31st, 1969
It’s often the case that a radical concept car will be developed for a major car show only to be put away in storage never to be heard of or seen again once the show’s over. Fortunately for fans of the 2007 up! concept, Volkswagen won’t be mothballing its new baby. Instead it plans to launch a new family of compact vehicles all based around the original concept.
The new compact vehicles are expected to replace the current Lupo hatch (the two middle letters of the name ‘Lupo’ spell ‘up’ – the same naming practice VW used with the ‘Scirocco’ and ‘Iroc’ concept), and there will be both three and five-door variants for the VW, Skoda and Seat brands.
Some rumored models include a sporty cabrio, a five-door MPV, and possible Audi version, all previewed here in these latest computer generated renderings. There’s also a chance that VW may build an SUV model, as well as a petrol-electric hybrid version and all-electric model. Furthermore, there are expected to be both premium and low cost versions, with the latter reserved for emerging markets.
Production of the new cars took a step closer to reality today with the announcement that the first vehicles, three and five-door variants for VW, Skoda and Seat, will be built at VW’s Bratislava plant in Slovakia from 2011 onwards.
They will be offered with a front engine, FWD configuration only. The original up! concept car featured a rear-mounted engine spinning the rear axle but this option was ruled out due to cost. Placing the engine in the front will allow them to share more components with other VW models but interior space will be less than the rear engine option.
Power should come from a range of compact three and four-cylinder engines, both naturally-aspirated and forced-induction, and both petrol and diesel.Volkswagen Lupo minicar family renderingsVolkswagen Group minicar range 2008
It’s often the case that a radical concept car will be developed for a major car show only to be put away in storage never to be heard of or seen again once the show’s over. Fortunately for fans of the 2007 up! concept, Volkswagen won’t be mothballing its new baby. Instead it plans to launch a new family of compact vehicles all based around the original concept.
The new compact vehicles are expected to replace the current Lupo hatch (the two middle letters of the name ‘Lupo’ spell ‘up’ – the same naming practice VW used with the ‘Scirocco’ and ‘Iroc’ concept), and there will be both three and five-door variants for the VW, Skoda and Seat brands.
Some rumored models include a sporty cabrio, a five-door MPV, and possible Audi version, all previewed here in these latest computer generated renderings. There’s also a chance that VW may build an SUV model, as well as a petrol-electric hybrid version and all-electric model. Furthermore, there are expected to be both premium and low cost versions, with the latter reserved for emerging markets.
Production of the new cars took a step closer to reality today with the announcement that the first vehicles, three and five-door variants for VW, Skoda and Seat, will be built at VW’s Bratislava plant in Slovakia from 2011 onwards.
They will be offered with a front engine, FWD configuration only. The original up! concept car featured a rear-mounted engine spinning the rear axle but this option was ruled out due to cost. Placing the engine in the front will allow them to share more components with other VW models but interior space will be less than the rear engine option.
Power should come from a range of compact three and four-cylinder engines, both naturally-aspirated and forced-induction, and both petrol and diesel.
Volkswagen reveals production plans for new up! minicar family
April 22nd, 2009
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April 22nd, 2009
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April 22nd, 2009
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The new compact vehicles are expected to replace the current Lupo hatch (the two middle letters of the name ‘Lupo’ spell ‘up’ – the same naming practice VW used with the ‘Scirocco’ and ‘Iroc’ concept), and there will be both three and five-door variants for the VW, Skoda and Seat brands.
Some rumored models include a sporty cabrio, a five-door MPV, and possible Audi version, all previewed here in these latest computer generated renderings. There’s also a chance that VW may build an SUV model, as well as a petrol-electric hybrid version and all-electric model. Furthermore, there are expected to be both premium and low cost versions, with the latter reserved for emerging markets.
Production of the new cars took a step closer to reality today with the announcement that the first vehicles, three and five-door variants for VW, Skoda and Seat, will be built at VW’s Bratislava plant in Slovakia from 2011 onwards.
They will be offered with a front engine, FWD configuration only. The original up! concept car featured a rear-mounted engine spinning the rear axle but this option was ruled out due to cost. Placing the engine in the front will allow them to share more components with other VW models but interior space will be less than the rear engine option.
Power should come from a range of compact three and four-cylinder engines, both naturally-aspirated and forced-induction, and both petrol and diesel.
Volkswagen Lupo minicar family renderings
Volkswagen Group minicar range 2008
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Comments (11 total)
Meet the top commenters on the LeaderboardBy NaBUru38 #1, Posted: 10/9/2007
Nice renderings! I'd love to turn my paper sketches into one of those...
This "New Small Family" can't replace the South American Gol, since it's too small. Do you have any news on Volkswagen's future B-segment low-cost car?
So, this is smaller then the Polo, and uglier.
Yes you are correct; the Lupo (at least the one that used to be sold in the UK) has always been smaller than the Polo. The Polo and the Gol are more Golf size.
I’m not sure that I think it should replace the Gol as the new small family car in North, Central and South America. Both cars could have a place here. I know in Costa Rica they could sure use a smaller more economical car for driving around the city. And ugly as it is, I’d love to have the ability to drive a small car like that to and from work (and are run errands).
JCE
http://johnceberhardt.wordpress.com/
john, I wrote the comment above one year ago. The Gol NF has already been released in Argentina, Brazil and my Uruguay. This future Lupo family is clearly one segment below the Gol, and I agree that both families can coexist.
So, this is smaller then the Polo, and uglier.
Don't you think it is more attractive than the other manufacturers entries in this category? (Smart, Toyota iQ, etc.)
That Kombi rendering looks very nice, Veedub should put that in production.
If any of these make it to N. America it will be a miracle and many years in the future. VW doesn't really invest much brainpower or energy into this market.
"If any of these make it to N. America it will be a miracle and many years in the future. VW doesn't really invest much brainpower or energy into this market."
That is likely due to the fact that there is no market yet for a car like this in NA. Would seem to be a waste of effort to bring it in if few buy it and VW can't make money on it.
NC2010, if we do not have the choice, we will never buy anything besides what is offered. People who would buy outside the box cannot. That is where VW and others have failed here, by going "me too!" and not being an alternative to the SUV/"mini"van/Camry/Malibu/Corolla gray fog.
....,if we do not have the choice, we will never buy anything besides what is offered.
My point is that other manufacturers have/do offer cars in this category in NA, but have not met with any success, even when fuel was over $4.
I am a firm believer in VW leading their premium categories, but, until the NA buyers show an indication they will buy something in the up! class, maybe VW should continue to reinforce the categories that do sell.
I want them to offer everything they offer in Europe, but, I also want them to be successful too.
I guess when I say N. America I include Canada, where compacts and subcompacts are a very large share of the market. Despite the fact that most manufacturers treat us as if we have the same vehicular tastes as Americans, as one market. Cars in the category of the VW Up! have met with success here before but we get a very limited choice because they may not play in Peoria.
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