Volkswagen up!

By Dan Strong

24th September 2007

Small cars are definitely on the up! Challenging Toyota’s iQ for the city hatch limelight is VW’s groundbreaking new up!. In homage to the firm’s original Beetle, the three-door has been developed as a modern-day people’s car. And, like the classic Bug, the new concept is rear-engined and rear-wheel drive.

This is partly due to the latest pedestrian safety regulations – the only way designers could allow an adequate crumple zone while maintaining tiny dimensions was to put the motor at the back.

A spiritual successor to the Lupo, the concept is only 3.45 metres long and 1.63 metres wide, yet bosses claim it offers more space inside than any rival on the market. The best news is that the city car is destined for production, and set to cost only £4,000. Power comes from a three-cylinder Bluemotion engine, but a two-cylinder unit is also under development. Engineers have an ambitious 94mpg target for the showroom model.

Inside, all three passenger seats can be folded and removed, thanks to their inflatable cushions, and there’s room to stow them in the luggage area. Two touchscreen panels replace regular dials and allow other cabin functions to be adjusted.