VW's up! concept: the Beetle legacy continues

Posted Mon Sep 10 2007 5:28 PM by Nelson Ireson

Volkswagen looks to be returning to its roots with the recently unmasked up! concept. A rear-engined, three-door, four-seat city car, the up! evokes many of the key design elements and emotions of the original Beetle.

A unique feature of the concept is the collapsible/removable seating. Every seat except the drivers can be folded down or removed to create extra cargo space. The seats, once removed, can be stowed either in the front trunk or the rear cargo area. A central touchscreen adorns the console area, providing touch-screen access to satellite navigation, radio, climate control, and on-board computer systems. A second screen in front of the driver relays the most important of this information, helping to keep eyes on the road.

The concept measures just 3,450mm in length and 1,630mm across but, despite this, there’s ample space for up to four passengers inside. VW are yet to provide full mechanical details, but early reports suggest a small capacity turbo-petrol engine with direct injection.

With a broad, seemingly smiling front fascia, wheel at each corner design, and a short, wide appearance, the cute little car just begs to be loved. VW is apparently staking the up!'s commercial future on public reaction. From our position, the future for the up! looks bright indeed.

Reader Comments

Mon Sep 10 2007 7:31 PM
John says

Bah, looks like the VW Chico.
Mon Sep 10 2007 7:32 PM
John says

A concept from the creepy 90s: http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z5626/Volkswagen_Chico/default.aspx
Mon Sep 10 2007 10:52 PM
Rambo says

looser-mobile
Tue Sep 11 2007 5:53 PM
Rambutt says

Looser-mobile? Your brain is looser than a loser.

Small cars are the future. Only a loser wouldn't get it. Only losers bought SUVs and pickups in the first place.
Tue Sep 11 2007 7:57 PM
XStrike says

"Small cars are the future."

One would think this but if you look historically, it is more like a pattern of small cars-big cars-small cars-big cars, etc. Cars of the 50's-60's are pretty big, then the 70's and 80's bought smaller cars, then the 90's to the early half of this decade we had ever increasing size of cars and now, small is cool. It is just like the stock market, with bear and bull trends. Hence, small cars might be the trend for the next 10-20 years or so and then for whatever reason, big cars will probably creep back in. This is true of American car history and I do not know enough about other parts of the world to make a judgement.
Tue Sep 11 2007 8:12 PM
Tom Mills says

Jeez, that thing looks like something out of a bad cartoon. Small can be cool (the new 500) but this is just embarrassing.
Tue Sep 11 2007 9:47 PM
Renato says

Don't worry not for america, (unti gas hits peak $6.00) ugly car, not hipe, send it to france
Wed Sep 12 2007 6:12 AM
SMC says

Between this and the stupid boat-on-wheels SUVs, I would pick this any day.
Wed Sep 12 2007 9:00 AM
samantha says

Forget this VW, smart car debuts in 2008. Cuter, more fun to drive and much more original.
Thu Sep 13 2007 8:05 PM
Sabrina says

I actually think that its really cute!. I would drive it any day!:)
Tue Feb 12 2008 12:58 AM
dan says

what the hell!propably shouldn't be surprised to read comments like these from americans with their trucks and junk. this is a great car, looks funky, and is much more viable than than some or other suv destroying the ozone on its own.
good on you vw!

MotorAuthority