Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Tokyo Motor Show, Volkswagen
More V-Dub Up! coming to Tokyo, LA
If you liked Volkswagen's Up! concept shown at Frankfurt earlier this week, we have some good news for you.
First, the head of VW, Martin Winterkorn, admitted the Up! was likely to see production in a few years. We like the sound of VW heading back to its rear-engined roots, and look forward to seeing how the company does with it.
Second and third, Winterkorn also says VW will have variations of the platform to show off at both the Tokyo Motor Show next month and, in November, at the Los Angeles show. What those might be, he didn't get into. Sedan? Wagon? Convertible? Hybrid? We'll know for sure within just a few weeks.
And if that's not enough good news for Up! fans, he also hinted at a possible fourth variation. No date was given for that car's intro, but Detroit in January would be a good guess.
[Source: The Car Connection]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
FrankTheCrank 9:05PM (9/15/2007)
CONCEPT!!!
I wouldn't get too excited about this thing.
A. It's at least 3 years away.
B. It's a B segment vehicle.
C. It'll do 38MPG at best.
Give me the Diesel C30 any day over this thing.
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tad 3:03AM (9/16/2007)
Nonsense, 38mpg is standard for a-class and below. Even my "VW Polo Fun" with fenders and big tires does that.
I'm sure the small diesel will do more than 100mpg, because there already are some in europe who reach that.
gizy 10:07PM (9/15/2007)
when was the last time vw followed through on anything they said? sure, something similar to this may reach production, but no way will it be rear wheel drive, let alone rear engined. audi doesnt even get rear wheel drive platforms for their volume models, but a dinky vw is going to?! i'll believe it when i see it rolling off the production line.
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Barney 10:33PM (9/15/2007)
If anyone has experience in rear wheel drive, Volkswagen is a leader. MPG today were unthought of yesterday and the demand is relentless. VW just has to improve the quality of their cars before being a leader in car sales.
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Valentino Amoro 5:40AM (9/16/2007)
Would not want to be in that tinbox in a crash, no matter how strong the frame is. If the conservation of momentum holds the person in that thing is dead meat. That said knowing VW's they are prob pretty meaty and heavy. Unlike the SMART car nonsense they're trying to shove on us Americans.
Barney 11:50AM (9/16/2007)
The Smart car is not being "pushed" on anyone. The Smart is in fact becoming the template for efficient and practical cars.
"nonsense they're trying to shove on us Americans." The only nonsense being shoved on the Americans, is the conception they are safer in big cumbersome cars. Luckly not all Americans are not that stupid.
hPocus 11:51PM (9/15/2007)
Will there be a GTI or VR6 version of this? I hope....
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MoonRover 7:29AM (9/16/2007)
Probably a pretty good car but gosh, it looks like an up-side-down polyethelene dishpan.
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Mike J 7:43AM (9/16/2007)
How about sending us the previous generation Lupo GTI. VW, you missed the boat on the small car segment.
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Frank 8:03AM (9/16/2007)
I am amazed at how many people immediately question the safety of small cars. How many accidents do you folks get in? I guess none of you ride motorcycles.
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Colin Smith 10:51AM (9/16/2007)
With oil at $80pb and rising - for ever - I'll be buying the most economical car I can get next time out. In three years Fiat (sorry, I know they are unknown and disliked in equal measure in the States) will introduce a litte twin with decent power (90bhp - fine for me in little car) and brillliant economy - 80+ mpg (Imp).
Every manufacturer in Europe and Asia is working hard on these frugal transport solutions, and they'll be fun to drive too. As for safety; structural engineering is moving as quickly as the economy sort.
Yes, mass matters in an accident, but the little cars are very strong now, and nimble, and for many of us they'll be all we can afford to run.
Dex 1:59PM (9/16/2007)
The Smart ForTwo has been on sale in Europe since 1998, and in Canada since 2004. If they really were outrageously unsafe during collisons, then this would be supported by statistical evidence. So where is this evidence then?
The American prejudice against small cars is irrational and embarassing. Personally, I'd love to have a new 'people's car' from VW. It makes a hell of a lot more sense than a Phaeton or Touareg.
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Bruno 3:08PM (9/16/2007)
For persons who think the smart is a unsafe car
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02eghIfyHP0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnVNUvixWUQ
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ebm14 5:43PM (9/19/2007)
I have a feeling VW will actually make this come to life.
The Tiguan and the UP will turn things around for the company even though I think their GTI/Rabbit, EOS and Toureg are nice, but I just hope they turn their service dept into Lexus friendly atmosphere.
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