Sporty new VW StreetUp! is warm-up for Up! GT

Volkswagen has certainly been taking its time with the Up! GT warm hatch; we drove a near-production ready prototype of the turbo city car, but that was almost two years ago. And the brand continues to frustratingly whet our appetite by unveiling a racier looking special edition of the Up! city car.

The StreetUp! edition gets a host of sporty trim upgrades that go a little way to lift the look of the Hyundai i10 rival inside and out. These include new 16-inch alloys, big white and green stripes that run up the bonnet and roof, and decals on the side panels. The interior gets unique seat trims, black headlining, a new gearknob and fresh steering wheel.

But the changes are a little more than skin deep: Volkswagen has given the StreetUp! new sports suspension that may be similar to the 50mm lowered setup in the GT prototype. This should hopefully mean more nimble and engaging handling from the city car.

Unfortunately, the main update everyone was hoping for (a bit of extra power from the three-cylinder engine) hasn't come to fruition, meaning that the hottest choice the StreetUp! will be available with is the 74bhp 1.0 litre, which manages 0-62mph in 13.2 seconds and 60mpg.

Volkswagen has only announced the StreetUp! will be going on sale in Germany so far, and a spokesperson says it is 'under consideration' for the UK.

Volkswagen also confimed that there was no further news about the GT, claiming "we'd all love to see it". So it seems it's not just customers that are living in hope for a hotter Up!

Now check out our round-up of the best city cars on sale.