Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Coupes, Economy, Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Green, Tokyo Motor Show, Volkswagen
Volkswagen planning minivan and plug-in version of Up!
We told you a couple weeks back that more Up! variants are on the way, and now we know what's coming soon to an auto show near you. The automaker from Wolfsburg is set to unveil an Up!-based minivan in Tokyo, followed by a plug-in hybrid sedan at Los Angeles. Since the goal of the Up! concept unveiled in Frankfurt is to give VW a low-cost, rear engine, affordable vehicle, both the minivan and plug-in hybrid should carry a meager price tag if they come to production. Both vehicles should also provide terrific fuel economy too, with the plug-in hybrid possibly approaching the lofty 100 mpg mark. We're no experts, but we think there is a market for affordable, 100 mpg vehicles with seating for four.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Arnie 9:47AM (10/02/2007)
Very good effort. I think it would sell, both in Europe and the US.
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Dr. Woo 10:02AM (10/02/2007)
Sounds like they're trying to make a Type 1 and Type 2 for today's market.
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calguy 10:22AM (10/02/2007)
I'm itching for cars like this. Good on VW for growing the idea. Tight design, manic fuel economy and two tier equipment levels all sound really smart.
Sentimentally (ish) though, I dug that VW cars were all named after the wind.. it's been a while but Scirocco, Bora, Jetta, Golf, Passat were such a subtle, cool message of unbridled movement. 'Up!' seems like a marketing direction, not a great car name.
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tio 10:46AM (10/02/2007)
I love the idea, but from the press it seems low content models will only be available in third world countries. The US model will probably be loaded with 6 disk cd, power everything, leather seats, etc.I don't need those things for my commute. Just give me a Ipod connectable radio and A/C. I would love something like that for my commute. Drop it on the market for 8 grand or under. That is a peoples car. Also, I can see the VW dealers snubbing their nose at this. They want 30 grand Jettas.
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gary 10:50AM (10/02/2007)
VW better hire some Italian car designers fast..
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Mamma Aiuto 11:11AM (10/02/2007)
This concept has been done under the direction of an Italian designer, Walter De Silva, currently head of design of VW.
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Schmeltz 11:56AM (10/02/2007)
I like Tio's comments above in regards to content of these vehicles. I have been feeling for a good number of years now that VW has lost its way in terms of vision. The Passat, Toureg, and Phaeton, (who could forget that?) have all been marketed in the expensive yuppie-mobile segment. Even the Jettas and Golfs climb up there with a few options. Hardly "the People's Car" anymore. The Up! could change all of that...although doubtfully with a name like that.
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zamafir 2:36PM (10/02/2007)
I hate to clue you in here, but the US is not VW's largest market. As such, we receive designs and interior specifications which strike a chord with European markets... Where VW makes a substantial profit.
It's entertaining and moderately disheartening to hear American customers laud a German car companies move up market, firmly entrenched in nostalgic beliefs, all the while Europeans are eating up VW's newest offerings.
VW is not Kia or Hyundai, for better or worse, and will not be selling bare bones cars state side. They have spent far to much money focusing on building cars which are as safe or safer then their competitors while offering superior levels of comfort and standard options.
As a proud owner of a MKV GTI, MKV Jetta 2.0T, 2005 Passat TDI and 2002 Jetta TDi, I can easily affirm VW's move up market is hardly overreaching or ludicrous. The level of improvements offered by the MKV over the MKIV in terms of handling, speed, mileage, fit and finish - aren't even funny. Just compare a Jetta 2.0T or GTi to the Civic Si and you'll understand that VW's not out of the ballpark. The only reason the Phaeton failed was that America is a very badge conscious culture, it's the same reason the Buigatti is doing extraordinarily well.
Will stripping the STANDARD six cd changer really make that much of a difference re: price points? Or is most of the money we're paying for VW's cars really focused on things like active and passive safety, superior interior design (ironically a contentious claim only in the US), sublime handling at triple digit speeds et-al.
So, I'd pick a bone of contention with anyone arguing an automaker with $199/mo leasable vehicles and a car with more standard features and safety equipment then anything in it's class for less then $15,000 (barely) isn't producing a car for the "people". If the American consumer can't spend between $15,000 and $25,000 on a car then we have much larger issues to contend with then VW's European focused model lineup.
That said, bring this car over, I’d consider one over the smart for urban transport duty. Until then, I’ll stick with my Yuppie mobile, it’s 200hp, 200lb ft of torque, six cd changer with mp3 support, sunroof, leather, heated seats, 7 second 0-60, 32mpg on the freeway, ultra safe, massive trunk $23,500 german debacle.
Dieter 1:05PM (10/02/2007)
Here in the U.S.A, the "Peoples Car" for communters is made by Honda, Toyota, Nissan or Hyundai/Kia and probably will remain so. Good luck, VW, in trying to change this.
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zamafir 2:40PM (10/02/2007)
Exactly, people who mostly lack passion for cars. Why anyone would want VW to reduce their interior quality, handling, et-al and produce a pure point a to point b snooze box is beyond me... maybe most simply don't believe in practicing what they preach, don't actually drive these cars, and instead sit here and berate them from the safety of inexperience.
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rgseidl 6:07PM (10/02/2007)
@ Calguy -
Up! is just the name of the concept they showed in Frankfurt. VW CEO Martin Winterkorn has indicated there will be a whole New Small Family of models based on this rear-engined RWD platform.
As for naming conventions, VW's entry-level products in Europe have always been named after animals (Beetle, Fox, Lupo etc.) VW USA considered the Golf a small car and sold it as the Rabbit.
VW's mid-tier cars have indeed been named after winds, except for the Corrado which was originally supposed to be the Typhoon:
http://stason.org/TULARC/vehicles/vw-general/21-Where-did-VW-car-names-come-from.html
There are plenty of unused names in that category:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_local_winds
However, unless VW wants to break with tradition, the New Small Family will likely be named after animals. "Bee" might be a good one for the successor to the Beetle.
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ebm14 8:48PM (10/02/2007)
It is very smart of them to come out with a Van and 2 door variant, but my guess is that a 4 door will also arise.
I hope they don't build this in China, best to built it in Wolfsburg. I think VW is going to make a major comeback
and I hope they also do so with their service department.
I would rather pay a few dollars more for better service.
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