Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[New York: Definite Maybe - VW Up! could be headed Stateside]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/09/new-york-definite-maybe-vw-up-could-be-headed-stateside/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/09/new-york-definite-maybe-vw-up-could-be-headed-stateside/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/09/new-york-definite-maybe-vw-up-could-be-headed-stateside/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


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.]

New York: Definite Maybe - VW Up! could be headed Stateside originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>New YorkNew York 2009NewYorkNewYork2009NewYorkAutoShowNYAutoshowNYIASStefan JacobyStefanJacobyUpvolkswagen upvolkswagen up conceptVolkswagenUpVolkswagenUpConceptThu, 09 Apr 2009 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[VW microcar gets fast-track to production]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/26/vw-microcar-gets-fast-track-to-production/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/26/vw-microcar-gets-fast-track-to-production/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/26/vw-microcar-gets-fast-track-to-production/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Volkswagen up! concept

European manufacturers seem to have been taken aback by the recent success of their microcars. Now that consumers have gotten a taste of what life is like when you're choosing between filling your tank or your stomach, industry insiders are predicting that the microcar category will only pick up steam. Daimler is sitting pretty with its smart brand, BMW is working on a city-spec Isetta revival, Toyota has responded with its diminutive iQ and VW went small with its Up! concept cars. But VeeDub's got even smaller ideas on its corporate mind, working on an smaller city car to slot below its already dinky Up! model.

Power for the city car will come from either a 1.2L four cylinder or an oil-burning three-pot. That gasoline engine is expected to feature cylinder cutoff technology so it can operate on just half of its allotment of pistons when full power isn't necessary. All of that adds up to an estimatged 117 miles per gallon. And naturally, an electric drivetrain is also in the works.

Current rumors indicate that the German automaker has given this new model priority status, working to get the car on UK roads by 2011. It all sounds good so far, minus the name: Chico. We're confident that they can think of something better.

[Source: Autocar]

VW microcar gets fast-track to production originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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]

More V-Dub Up! coming to Tokyo, LA originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Sep 2007 19:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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