New York: Definite Maybe - VW Up! could be headed Stateside
Volkswagen Up! Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
Here in New York, Volkswagen CEO Stefan Jacoby said the company might be shaking things "Up" again in the States. The on-again, off-again status of the Up! mini-car on these shores is apparently about to go on – again. While the Up! (likely to reintroduce the Lupo nameplate) won't see production until 2012 at the earliest, Jacoby is hinting that it could be on sale here when it debuts: "Up! could be in the future of the market here. In urban areas like New York, a car like Up! has a good chance."
Jacoby, among others, thinks that fuel efficiency will remain a big draw into the future, so cars like the Up! make a lot of sense for VW, returning an anticipated 50 mpg. And that's just in conventional internal-combustion engine configuration. Throw in some of VW's alternative-fuel technology, and that number could go up significantly. "We are looking at second-generation biofuels, electric cars, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and nanotechnology," Jacoby said. That doesn't mean VW thinks the end of the ICE is nigh. When the U.S. market starts to rebound at the end of 2009, Jacoby anticipates a total market of 13 million to 14 million vehicles, the vast majority ICEs.
We've already speculated that the Up! will be produced in India, and that we'll most likely get the roomier Space Up! microvan model rather than the smaller three-door hatch version. We're also hearing that the original Beetle-like rear-engine, rear-drive configuration will be swapped to front/front for production. Engine options are said to range from a 600cc turbo to a 1.2-liter three-cylinder, in gas and diesel forms. Mileage could be as high as 80 miles-per-gallon. If it has any of the driving dynamics that Volkswagen is known for, we can see this being a worthy rival for the Honda Fit and Fiat 500 in the fun little econo car class.
Gallery: VW up!
Gallery: VW space up! blue
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Soccer Mom 2:04PM (4/09/2009)
Will be nice to see it here.
Reply
zamafir 1:30PM (4/09/2009)
Bring it, I'm still amazed at how production ready the concepts feel inside.
Reply
joe23521 1:32PM (4/09/2009)
I wouldn't mind being seen in one of these.
Reply
Bman 1:35PM (4/09/2009)
Build in TN... do it now!
Reply
patrick clement 1:41PM (4/09/2009)
Who would buy these things? The cars would be a cute for a little while, then disposed of for a real car with a real v8 engine, later on.
Reply
Farris 1:45PM (4/09/2009)
Are you joking? That has to be one of the dumbest things I've read in these comment sections in a long time.
Ian B. 1:58PM (4/09/2009)
You mean like a V8 from BMW, Mercedes or maybe Toyota?
davido 1:59PM (4/09/2009)
@Patrick,
You are aware aren't you that the overwhelming majority of cars on the roads in the US at the moment aren't V8's and never will be, right?
Jared 2:01PM (4/09/2009)
Who would buy these things? People who would buy a Mini, but can't afford it. People who would buy a Yaris or Venza, but want something with a little more style. People who try a Smart Car, but realize that it is overpriced and under-engineered. There are lots of folks who want a city car for cheap urban/suburban commuting.
Tomac 3:08PM (4/09/2009)
... or people who don't realize VW's reliability is dismal.
I agree the original comment was ridiculous, though.
Jared 3:49PM (4/09/2009)
Tomac: I had a 2000 GTI GLX. Unfortunately, I'm intimately familiar with VW's lack of reliability. Perhaps they are better now, but I'm guessing they still aren't good enough.
Farris 1:46PM (4/09/2009)
After the 'rocco debacle (I'm still miffed that it's not coming here), they had damn well bring over a new (lower cost) model. The lineup is getting a bit stale, as it's been the same forever.
Reply
David 4:18PM (4/09/2009)
After the Sirocco debacle, I say "Hey VW, keep all your sh&#, and f-you!"
Either bring it all and bring it soon, or go away. You're in no position to tell us what we want and what's good for us, and where and when we should be able to buy it. Isn't your market share only 2%?
WE, the consumer, will tell YOU what we want and how. Just sell it, and we'll buy it, unless it's an inferior product, in which case, you need to know that too.
GOT 3:06AM (4/10/2009)
And after the Polo bait-n-switch debacle... the Fox tease... the Microbus tease... For crying out loud VW, bring SOMETHING.
Epyx 1:51PM (4/09/2009)
I can see a marketing campaign similar to the original neon, "hi" ads
"What Up?"
Reply
Trace 1:56PM (4/09/2009)
Need a car like this NOW, not in another four years.
Reply
havoc 1:59PM (4/09/2009)
although i have typically a loathing for things VW, i like this. it would be great to bring to production asap, and a welcome alternative to a smart, for a city vehicle.
Reply
Jared 1:59PM (4/09/2009)
VW: make it rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive and bring it here.
Reply
gerrrg 2:08PM (4/09/2009)
The Space Up looks really good...better than the Soul.
Reply
The Luigiian 2:14PM (4/09/2009)
This chassis should underpin the 2010 Volkswagen Beetle. It's already halfway there shape-wise, now all they'd have to do is make the rear curvy and they've got it down. RWD...
Oh wait, it doesn't have RWD. Oh well, still a good Beetle candidate.
Reply