REPORT: Larger VW E-Up! could come to the States
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Sep 22nd 2009 at 9:30AM 
Volkswagen E-Up! Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
After showing off the E-Up! at the Frankfurt Motor Show last week and declaring it the Beetle of the 21st Century, VW is promising to have the tiny EV into small scale production in Europe by 2013. However, the people's automaker isn't convinced such a small car would be accepted in the United States.
Flawed logic or not, Automotive News reports that a somewhat larger version of the E-Up! – about 146 inches long, or some 20 inches longer than the concept VW claimed was its smallest car ever – is being developed for the crucial U.S. market.
The first vehicle using the Up!'s New Small Family architecture is expected to debut in 2011, with the electric version showing up in Europe about two years later. U.S. sales of the slightly larger model will come at some unspecified later date.
Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen E-Up!
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
starving4rtist 9:34AM (9/22/2009)
Sometimes I hate living in America.
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jv2k 9:56AM (9/22/2009)
Would you really buy a car that the maker of the old Beetle calls "their smallest car ever"?
I don't see the appeal of tiny cars in a country where roads are enormous and gas is inexpensive.
ak47ak47 10:02AM (9/22/2009)
because we get bigger cars?
i mean if you think it's nicer to drive in crowded, small roads in a crowded, small, manual transmission euro-box with a gas pedal that acts more like an on/off switch, that's cool.
or you can live in america and drive a big, comfortable car that gets worse mileage, but also pollutes less (since american emissions standards are more strict, and since diesels are all but non-existant in american cities). you don't have to bother yourself with a manual transmission because there are no benefits for the american consumer.
you also don't have to bother yourself with a car that handles well since all the roads are straight.
so yeah, it really sucks in america, where you don't have to shift, worry about giving half your gas money to the government, and get larger cars than europe or asia. (all this at a lower price)
jv2k 10:06AM (9/22/2009)
ak47ak47
I'm not sure if you are being sarcastic or not.
jv2k 10:07AM (9/22/2009)
In case you aren't:
worse handling cars and lack of a manual transmission are one of the bad things about the american auto market.
james 9:48AM (9/22/2009)
Just about sick of this upscaling of cars for the US market.
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jv2k 10:03AM (9/22/2009)
http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/frankfurt-2009-volkswagen-e-up/#17
You couldn't fit little kids comfortably in rear seats. Honestly it looks like we are getting the better version(assuming this car isn't going to be a blast to drive while the american car get's neutered of course).
Tim 9:50AM (9/22/2009)
So is it going to be called the Super Up!?
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scopkins 1:24PM (9/22/2009)
No it's bigger than the E-up so you go to the next letter. It's the F-up.
Churras 9:55AM (9/22/2009)
VW always joking about USA average weight
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larry raines 10:33AM (9/22/2009)
- but I wanted to squeeze my fat arse into the small one..........
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Galley 10:43AM (9/22/2009)
20 inches longer? How fat do they think we are?
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Redline 11:57AM (9/22/2009)
Very.
Alex 10:44AM (9/22/2009)
This a situation where i don't care that the car is growing for Americans' tastes. This car was never going to be some dynamo of performance, speed and handling. Its just a small car. Now if Mazda said they were going to give the US a larger MX-5, then i would get pissed.
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J 11:27AM (9/22/2009)
Damnit VW...
Would you please get serious and start calling it the 'Golf/Rabbit' already?
Why on Earth would VW need to sell this car in the US if they're going to make it bigger and allow it to cannibalize Golf sales?
If it's purely hybrid or purely electric, then I would be okay with it being a separate model in the same class as the Golf...but it's not going to be pure electric or purely a hybrid because Volkswagen doesn't like those technologies.
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carguy 11:30AM (9/22/2009)
Yeah - it needs to be much larger and have at least 12 cup holders and preferably be in some sort of SUV shape.
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Praeliber 3:25PM (9/22/2009)
you make my day!
Invisible 2:27PM (9/22/2009)
I'm glad I can afford to not compromise and have to drive a tiny tin box of a car!
Love my power seats, autoclimate control, room to stretch out my legs, wear a hat if I wish, cruise down our great American Expressways in quiet comfort and elevated speeds.
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LimeDaiquiri 2:52PM (9/22/2009)
We don't want none. Thanks.
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RockStoneSteel 8:15PM (9/22/2009)
This type of vehicle would be perfect to take advantage of the electric motors. They could make it a rear wheel or all wheel drive with a fully independent suspension. The batteries could be packed in multiple/various locations throughout the body to maximize passenger space. But alas, they will probably just settle for making it yet one more cheap small car.
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