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Volkswagen Cross Up! aimed at rugged lifestyle folks, complete with plastic cladding

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Volkswagen

If you thought there was nothing wrong with the Volkswagen Up! that a little body cladding wouldn't fix, you're in luck. VW has officially pulled the wraps off the production version of the Cross Up!, and its wheel arches and rocker panels are full of the black plastic cladding you've been yearning for.

In addition to the "particularly rugged design and tough, lifestyle qualities" that the cladding exudes, VeeDub has also seen fit to put its Cross Up! on a new set of 16-inch alloy wheels clad in 185/50-series tires. Inside, there are new kick plates to go along with a dash pad that can be had in red, black or silver.

All that cladding must equal additional off-road readiness, right? Well, sure... just so long as you're fine with the same 75-horsepower three-cylinder engine that all other Up! models also feature, along with a five-speed manual transmission sending power to the front wheels, again, just like all other Up! models. The Cross Up! appears to have a taller ride height than other models, but we haven't been able to find out what - if any - changes have been made.

Sales begin in mainland Europe this summer, and the car may make it to the UK at some point. Don't expect to see the machine traversing the Rubicon Trail here in the States, though. And with that, we hope you'll join us in the rugged outdoor confines of your local mall's parking garage. But first, scroll down below for the official press release.

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Volkswagen Cross Up! aimed at rugged lifestyle folks, complete with plastic cladding originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Mar 2013 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen Cross Up! headed for production after Geneva reveal

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:44:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Volkswagen

The last time we saw the Volkswagen Cross Up!, it was sitting out in the snow in prototype form, but the next time we'll see this slightly more rugged version of the diminutive Up! hatchback will be when it makes its production debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month. Looking like a micro-crossover with its raised ground clearance and black cladding, the Cross Up! will be the fourth "Cross" model for VW (after the CrossPolo, CrossGolf and CrossTouran) when it goes on sale this summer in mainland Europe (UK sales remain up in the air and US sales are highly unlikely).

Overall, the styling of the production Cross Up! has stayed fairly true to the 2011 concept car, including the front and rear fascias that offer a more rugged look, stocky 16-inch wheels and roof rack side rails. Inside, this model will get unique interior enhancements such as "Cross Up!" sill plates and an instrument panel available in red, black or silver. Like the regular Up!, the Cross Up! is powered by a 74-horsepower, 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine paired to a five-speed manual transmission, and it doesn't look like all-wheel drive will be part of the picture. For more details on the upcoming Cross Up!, check out VW's press release posted below.

Continue reading Volkswagen Cross Up! headed for production after Geneva reveal

Volkswagen Cross Up! headed for production after Geneva reveal originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen Cross Up! caught in the cold

Jeffrey N. Ross — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 19:15:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Europe, Hatchback, Volkswagen

The Volkswagen Cross Up! started life as a concept vehicle at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, but based on these spy shots, the jacked-up microcar looks to be heading into production, poised to join VW's European lifted lineup alongside the CrossPolo, CrossGolf and CrossTouran.

Like stockier versions of the Polo, Golf and Touran, this prototype suggests that Cross versions of the Up! will be set apart by a taller stance and black plastic cladding along the lower edges of the bodywork. This winter tester's meaty snow tires also do a pretty good job of making the model look ready for an afternoon of extreme soft-roading.

Volkswagen Cross Up! caught in the cold originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Dec 2012 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen mulling Up!-based crossover

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 09 May 2012 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Volkswagen

We knew the three-door Volkswagen Up! was going to shape-shift into other variants, one of them being a five-door version that's due later this year. According to word in German newspaper Handelsblatt, the well-received Cross-Up!, which provided clues to the styling of the five-door Up! could actually be the follow-up.

Crossovers remain popular just about everywhere and their sales are on the rise in Europe, so it's no surprise that manufacturers are finding ways to create market-specific versions. According to the preliminary numbers, the The Cross Up! would slot in at $6,000 less than the larger Tiguan. And like every other tiny Euro crossover - well, almost - we shouldn't ever expect to see it here.

Volkswagen mulling Up!-based crossover originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 May 2012 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen bringing four Up! concepts to Geneva

Jeff Sabatini — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Budget, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Volkswagen

The Up! supermini goes on sale in Europe in a few days, but Volkswagen has already been hard at work casting about for ideas to expand beyond the three-door model available at launch. A five-door will go on sale later this year, and VW showed a few Up! concepts last fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show. For Geneva next week, the cute little city car gets four new outfits: Swiss Up!, Winter Up!, X Up!, and Cargo Up!

The Swiss Up! is the red one, notable only in that the seat backs contain leather bands suitable for storing Swiss Army knives (seriously?). If you can't figure out which one is the Winter Up!, perhaps you need to move further away from the equator. It's based on the Cross Up! concept from Frankfurt, boasting the same higher ride height and underbody protection. Also based on the Cross Up! is the X Up! - that's the orange one with the lights on it. Perhaps the most intriguing is the Cargo Up!, which gave up its rear seats in favor of a 49 cubic-foot cargo hold capable of caring a 939-pound payload.

With three of four of these design studies having lifted bodies, it's pretty safe to say that VW is likely to launch the Cross Up! as the next model in the family after the GT Up! sportster. We're big fans of this tiny VW, so from where we sit, this is good news - the more models, the merrier. Though we do wish VW would consider offering an Up! on our side of the pond. Click past the jump to read the full press release.

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Volkswagen bringing four Up! concepts to Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen Up! five-door hits the patent office

Zach Bowman — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Etc., Europe, Crossover, Hatchback, Volkswagen

Images of a five-door version of the Volkswagen Up! have surfaced courtesy of a European patent office. The German automaker confirmed a five-door version of the pint-sized vehicle was headed to market, and Volkswagen even went so far as to show off the Cross Up! Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Judging by the patent photo, the production version of the five-door Up! will stick fairly close to the concept and will ride on a similarly tall suspension. That should give the vehicle more of a mini crossover appearance instead of a small hatchback.

Information on drivetrain options is suitably scarce at the moment, but we expect the five-door Up! to roll off of the production line with the same engines as its shorter three-door kin. That means buyers should be able to tick boxes for either a 59-horsepower gasoline engine or a brawny 74-horsepower gas powerplant. A 67-horsepower natural gas engine is also available in the Up! as well. A taller-riding Up! is a perfect fit in Russia and South America where roads can vary from uncomfortable to inhumane.

Volkswagen Up! five-door hits the patent office originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen on the rise with a variety of Up! concepts [w/video]

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Convertible, Coupe, Budget, Crossover, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Design/Style, Electric, Off-Road

Volkswagen is eager to show off its new Up! range, so the automaker didn't bring one version of the compact to the Frankfurt Motor Show - it brought six. The Up! platform is clearly a versatile one, and all six Up! concepts on display attest to that fact. Volkswagen has an Up! for people who enjoy a day spent sailing on the water to those who prefer their adventures to be of the urban variety.

The six concept Up! varieties are the Buggy Up! (shown above), Up! Azzurra, Cross Up!, GT Up!, Eco Up! and e-Up! The Buggy and Azzurra are designed for those who want to get close to the ocean. The Buggy is clearly a modern take on the classic VW-based kit cars from the 1960s. It's a modern Meyers Manx, or perhaps a riff on the old VW Thing. The Azzurra, on the other hand, also likes the beach but prefers to stay dockside while its occupants take to the sea. Penned by Italian designers Giorgetto Giugiaro and VW design boss Walter de Silva, the Up! Azzurra is a roofless, doorless summer time cruiser that's the perfect land toy for boat lovers.

Volkswagen couldn't go completely doorless with the Up! family, so a few had to cover up will remaining fun. The Cross Up! is a four-door example that applies lifted CUV dynamics to the Up! platform. Those seeking a more enthusiastic driving experience should turn their attention to the GT Up! concept. VW estimates it can push the standard 74-horsepower Up! engine to produce 100 horses for the GT version. Add in the 17-inch wheels, rear spoiler and upgraded exhaust, and you have a sporty Up! designed to add a thrill to your morning commute.

Since the Up! is an affordable compact designed for life in the city, you would expect Volkswagen to add a few versions that up the green quotient. The automaker has done just that with the e-Up! and Eco Up! The "e" in the name of the former alludes to the fact that this vehicle is an all-electric city car with no emissions spewing out the back. Power is provided by an 18 kWh battery pack, which will allow the e Up! to go 80 miles on a single charge. The Eco Up! needs fuel to get going, but it eschews traditional gasoline for natural gas, a start/stop system and brake regeneration. A 1-liter three-cylinder engine produces 67 horsepower and, when coupled with the BlueMotion start/stop system, achieves a combined fuel consumption figure of just 2.5kg/100km.

Check out the entire Up! family by clicking through the gallery and checking out VW's first Up! promo video after the jump. We would join you, but we have to go find a replacement for our failing exclamation point key.

Continue reading Volkswagen on the rise with a variety of Up! concepts [w/video]

Volkswagen on the rise with a variety of Up! concepts [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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