Autoblog

Report: VW resurrects Lupo nameplate for the Up! city car

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 12:36:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Electric

We'd already heard that we wouldn't be getting the conventionally-powered version of Volkswagen's city car, the Up! Now we hear, per Autocar, that it won't be called the Up!, it will be called Lupo. The Lupo, a nameplate known throughout Europe until it ceased production in 2005, was VW's small, sub-Polo offering. In its new incarnation, the Lupo will replace the Fox, currently the smallest VW sold.

The conventional power of the Up!/Lupo will also come with a more conventional powertrain layout. The rear underfloor-mounted engine was innovative yet ultimately too complex for production. The Lupo that goes on sale next summer is expected to be offered with the choice of either a 1.0-liter three-cylinder gas engine putting out 75 horsepower or a 1.2-liter Bluemotion-branded diesel.

The E-Up that will supposedly hit our shores in 2013 might be coming as an Audi only. The VW Group plans to spread the Up!/Lupo gospel throughout its companies, but the electrified version is being worked on "in partnership with" Audi. Since Audi's already getting all kinds of electric ink in the U.S. thanks to its sexy e-tron concepts, and with the price premium electric cars command, we wouldn't be surprised if the electric Lupo initially comes to the U.S. wearing interlocking nose rings.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: VW resurrects Lupo nameplate for the Up! city car originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 Jul 2010 12:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Larger VW E-Up! could come to the States

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Volkswagen, Electric

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]

REPORT: Larger VW E-Up! could come to the States originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen calls E-Up! Concept "Beetle of the 21st Century"

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Electric

Volkswagen E-Up! Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Volkswagen promises to release the "Beetle of the 21st Century" by 2013. Those are some of the biggest shoes in the history of the automobile to fill, and VW plans to do just that with a new car based on the New Small Family architecture that was introduced on the original Up! concept that's been floating around for the last few years.

Naturally, like any future-spec concept that's looking to alter the vehicular landscape, the E-Up! will be powered by electrons. The car is small - under 10.5 feet (3.19 meters) in length - and will seat four occupants in a 3+1 arrangement. Top speed is listed at just under 85 miles per hour (135 km/h) and the run to 60 mph will take about 11 seconds while the city-centric zero to 30 mph is dispatched in just 3.5 seconds.

That performance is surely buoyed by the E-Up!'s low weight of about 2,400 pounds (1,085 kilometers) - 530 pounds of which is accounted for by the 18 kWh lithium ion battery pack. That's enough juice to provide a range of about 80 miles (130 kilometers), which VW believes is sufficient for urban use. Depending on the outlet used to charge the EV, a battery pack replenished to 80% takes as little as an hour.

VW is quick to point out that its E-Up! is not a retro design like its own New Beetle. Instead, the car used Volkswagen's latest design languages and draws inspiration from current models like the Polo and Golf. Details like diamond-cut head lamps and C-shaped fog lights join the solar roof that provides a working ventilation system without draining the battery to add to the car's futuristic feel. Click on past the break for the complete press release and check out our gallery of images below.

Gallery: Volkswagen E-Up! Concept

Continue reading Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen calls E-Up! Concept "Beetle of the 21st Century"

Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen calls E-Up! Concept "Beetle of the 21st Century" originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW microcar gets fast-track to production

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Europe, Green, Volkswagen

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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Volkswagen developing car even smaller than up! with 117.6 mpg!

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Green, Volkswagen

Click above for high-res gallery of the VW up! Concept

In Fall of 2007, Volkswagen unveiled a series of three mini car concepts called the up!, Space up! and Space up! Blue. Apparently the German automaker has determined that the tiny "four seat" up! just isn't small enough and is planning an even smaller machine to take on the Smart ForTwo directly. The goal is to create a two-seater that can achieve a fuel consumption rating of 2 L/100 km or 117.6 mpg! According to Auto Motor und Sport, the smaller car will be based on the up! architecture with power coming from a 1.0L three-cylinder diesel making 50 hp. VW has been testing a two-cylinder engine, but is unlikely to go that route. A twin would have to work too hard to provide any mileage benefit, so the slightly larger engine is likely to find a home in the new car. The first of the up! models are expected to debut in 2010 with larger models, and now smaller ones, to follow. Thanks to Christian for the tip!

Gallery: VW up!

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via German Car Blog]

Volkswagen developing car even smaller than up! with 117.6 mpg! originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: Audi's new up!-based city car

Chris Shunk — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Audi, Volkswagen, Rendered Speculation

The up! is primed to be VW's long-awaited encore to the "People's Car," providing consumers abroad with an extremely efficient run-about that can get up to 95 European MPGs. The up! sounds like a vehicle VW should have been building all along, but does it sound like an Audi? The scribes over at Auto Express think so, and their rendering of an Audi up! looks the part. The image is a lightly reworked version of the stylish little up! concept, with body panels and roof lines looking very much like the V-Dub city car from that was first unveiled at Frankfurt.

The headlights are more vertical on the Audi and the open mouth look on the up!'s lower fascia is truncated by Audi's trademark split grille. The C-pillar is more triangular than the up! and the taillamps look like they were ripped from an A4 and stretched vertically.

Auto Express is reporting that an Audi version of the up! will be available in 2012. If that's true, it's unlikely we'll see the micro-Audi in the States in '12 anyway. We colonials aren't usually up (rimshot) for spending a big premium for a really small car that isn't named MINI.

[Source: Auto Express]

Rendered Speculation: Audi's new up!-based city car originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi confirms pure electric city car in the works

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:03:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Audi, Volkswagen

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

Audi has long been rumored to be developing an electric car and many of us concluded that it would be based on the A1 concept that the German automaker recently showed off at the Paris Motor Show. According to Audi board member Peter Schwarzenbauer, the electric car is indeed coming, though it will be based on the Volkswagen up! platform that's destined to carry the Lupo badge when it goes into production. Audi will need to work fast if it's going to catch BMW, its natural rival, which has already begun production of an electric version of the hugely popular MINI Cooper. For the Audi/VW offering, a battery pack will be mounted at the rear of the Lupo's platform, though we still have no indication of what type of battery will be used. What might the new car be named? Not sure, but we do know that A2 is available.

Gallery: VW up!

[Source: Autocar]

Audi confirms pure electric city car in the works originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More details on VW's design renaissance

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Volkswagen

It seems Volkswagen has breathed a collective "Oops!", and is now working to turn its design ship around. VW was known for neat, differentiated designs with great interior details. While this stayed true in some parts of the world, in the U.S., Volkswagen design turned into chrome shield grilles fronting identical bodies in various sizes.

When Martin Winterkorn was lured back from academia, "he looked at Volkswagen's upcoming designs and binned the lot." Audi's design chief was brought in. VW started over on the Golf, which will be coming out later this year. The Polo redesign was taken up again from scratch. The Up! "was not fully thought through as a concept," and is getting a workover.

VW's new language is said to be about "simplicity," "a confident identity," "crisply-detailed functionality," and cars that aren't "over-designed." The chrome shield is gone (thank goodness) and headlights that wrap around to the front wheel arches have also been sent packing, "because that's not what a headlight is for." Stay tuned for more horizontals, as seen on the Scirocco -- and here (so much for no more chrome) -- and hopefully a slew of compelling shapes.

[Source: Evo]

More details on VW's design renaissance originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen up confirmed to be FWD, delayed five months

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Minivan/Van, Sedan, Europe, Hatchback

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

It was rumored last week and now it's been confirmed: Volkswagen's up! minicar will be switched from a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout to a front-engine, front-wheel-drive arrangement when it goes on sale in 2011. According to VW CEO Martin Winterkorn, "Our engineers favored a rear engine and fought until the end for that solution." Unfortunately, the rear-engine layout had to be nixed due to cost constraints and the limitations it imposed on passenger space.

Volkswagen originally planned to launch the up! in Europe sometime in 2010, but the architecture switch has bumped back its sale date by four- to five-months, meaning it will likely hit showrooms in early 2011. While a few months wouldn't normally be a big deal, the Toyota IQ is set to debut in dealers early next year and the Fiat Topolino will launch late in 2009, putting VW behind the eight ball by almost two years.

Volkswagen plans to launch the up! in three flavors: a hatchback, minivan and sedan. The automaker expects sales in Europe and emerging markets to hit approximately 500,000 units per year, although a decision has yet to be reached on whether the up! will make it to the U.S.

Gallery: LA 2007: VW space up! blue concept

Gallery: Volkswagen up! Space Concept

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Volkswagen up confirmed to be FWD, delayed five months originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW up! could be switched to FWD

Chris Shunk — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:03:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Volkswagen

Volkswagen is working hard to make the up! a reality, but the technological challenges of a rear engine, RWD car are proving to be more daunting than expected. The VW engineering team is reportedly having trouble conjuring up a low cost rear-engine layout. The problem has been trying to accommodate a radiator in the up!'s nose and transferring coolant through the car. Early up! prototypes are also having a difficult time with cross-wind stability due to the unbalanced heft of its rear drive/rear engine layout. To correct these issues, some styling changes may be necessary, but if the basic shape of the up! is compromised, the German automaker may have to look at front wheel drive as an option. In spite of any problems engineers are having, VW executives are confident any difficulties will be overcome.

We're hoping that means we can still expect the inexpensive hatch to be pushed via the rear wheels just like the original Bug. Then again, the Mini has proved that small cars can be fun and driven by the front wheels, and as long as the up! is cheap, efficient, and adorable, there will be plenty of buyers.

[Source: Autocar]

VW up! could be switched to FWD originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen releases three concepts... from 2028

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Green, Volkswagen

Click the above image of the Ego for more shots of VW's 2028 concepts

For years, Inquiring minds have been imagining what the world will look like in the not-too-distant future, and, as you're no doubt aware, our brains have a knack for envisioning more than our feeble hands can produce. That appears to be the case with Volkswagen and its look 20 years into the future of the automobile. So, with that in mind, what does VeeDub see as the future of transportation in twenty years? To begin with, customizable cars which can be summoned up in just minutes. Traveling alone? Choose the One, a single-seater, for the smallest footprint possible. Want to have some fun? Choose the aptly named Ego, a sporty two passenger coupe with an instant custom flame job. If you need to haul the whole clan, the future's ~~family truckster~~ VW Room needs no driver, leaving you with plenty of quality time with the kids.

Volkswagen envisions vehicles which communicate with each other, meaning that driver involvement is kept to a minimum, traffic is a thing of the past and accidents are completely avoided. Of course, no vision of the future would be complete without the elimination of fossil fuels, and VW sees to it that biofuels and electricity power the cars of the future. Interestingly, the not-so-futuristic up! concept is used as the starting point for the German automaker's future designs. Head on over to the micro-site for more.

Gallery: Volkswagen 2028

[Source: Volkswagen 2028]

Volkswagen releases three concepts... from 2028 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Production VW up! may drop rear engine and RWD

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Budget, Europe, Green, Plants/Manufacturing, Volkswagen, Rumormill

Click above to view high-res gallery of the Volkswagen Space up!

We'll admit to being a bit shocked that Volkswagen was even considering a move back to the rear-engine configuration it made fashionable all those years ago with its first vehicle, the ubiquitous Beetle, for the production version of its up! concept. Although we have some fondness in our hearts for the good ol' Bug and its backwards engine location, modern packaging constraints may force VW to ditch this idea for the production version of the up!, just like it did for the modern reincarnation of that first Vee Dub, the New Beetle. Out would go the uniqueness of the concept vehicle with this decision, but such is life in these days of platform sharing and cost considerations.

To go along with the previously noted nostalgia-crushing news, rumors indicate that both a 1.2-liter gasoline engine and a new diesel engine of the same displacement are expected, both offering just 55 horsepower. If this power level is accurate, at least the up! will share one thing with its Beetle forebear: really slow acceleration.

Gallery: LA 2007: VW space up! blue concept

[Source: AutoZeitung (translated) via Motor Authority]

Production VW up! may drop rear engine and RWD originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen up! More details revealed

Chris Shunk — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Europe, Hatchback, Volkswagen

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

Volkswagen's adorable little up! has the ambitious goal of becoming the next original Beetle, and new info on Auto Express seems to indicate that the Germans in Wolfsburg may be on to something. The up! will feature both gasoline and diesel-powered engines with a minuscule displacement of only .6 turbocharged liters, and a larger 1.2L three-cylinder engine may be planned, as well.

The up! will also be extremely fuel efficient, with U.S. fuel economy numbers near 80 mpg. Perhaps the most eye-catching bit of info is the base price of the handsome little micro: models will sell for as little as £4,500 in emerging markets and more richly equipped European models will start around £7,500. VW is also looking at making both a three- and five-door up! with the exact same wheelbase, as well a roomier MPV version and even a hybrid. VW also says that the 11 foot long up! will also feature the roomiest cabin in its class. Is it just us, or does the amazing little up! almost sound too good to be true? We'll find out for sure next year when the production up! is released to the public.

Gallery: VW up!

Gallery: VW space up! blue

[Source: Auto Express]

Volkswagen up! More details revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Evidence of Apple and VW collaboration on up! dashboards?

Chris Tutor — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:04:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Technology, Volkswagen

Last week we told you about Volkswagen's plan to put touch screens in every one of its cars next year and wondered if maybe this is what Apple had been helping VW sort out.

Well, our brothers over at Engadget did some digging and came up with a video showing VW's UP touch interface in use. Apple fans will immediately recognize the look and feel of the images as very Coverflow or Front Row-like. Apple fanboys will have already seen all this, of course, and put their cars up for sale in anticipation of the new VW lineup (anyone want to by a 2002 Corolla, btw?).

Is this the fabled iCar? Has Apple assisted in the design of VW's new touch interface? While the video shown here is indeed intriguing, don't get excited just yet. Apple's Coverflow is easily imitated, and VW might have only been inspired by Apple's work. Even so, it would be a huge improvement over what VW uses now, and as much of a leap forward for the automotive industry as Apple's iPhone has been for mobile phone companies.

If you know Apple, they're gonna keep this pie as secret as they can until it's fully baked. But we're gonna do our best to keep an eye on it while it's cooking, so stay tuned.

[Source: Engadget]

Evidence of Apple and VW collaboration on up! dashboards? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2007: VW space up! blue

Alex Nunez — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:23:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Minivan/Van, Green, Volkswagen

Click image for photo gallery

VW has adapted its globe-trotting up! concept for California's green sensibilities, packaged it like a micro-sized microbus and has brought the result to Los Angeles. The space up! blue is a fuel cell hybrid with plug-in capabilities. It leverages a high-temperature fuel cell (the world's first, according to VW) in concert with a lithium-ion battery array to power a rear-mounted electric motor. A solar panel on the roof also helps charge the onboard batteries. On battery power alone, the little cruiser has a range of 65 miles with a full charge. When the fuel cell is added into the mix, maximum range increases to 220 miles. VW claims that its high temperature fuel cell (FC-HT) is more production-viable in the long tun than competing fuel cell tech because it's lighter, more geared to everyday use and less costly to produce. That's very encouraging news, to be sure. Now, if only they had figured out a way to allow for roof-mounted surfboards without blocking the solar panel...

[Source: VW]

Gallery: VW space up! blue

Continue reading LA 2007: VW space up! blue

LA 2007: VW space up! blue originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt 2007: VW gets it up!

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 06:03:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Budget, Hatchback, Volkswagen

UPDATE: Press release added after the jump.

Click the image above for more live high-res pics.

Some may compare it to the Beetle, but in the end, it looks like a restyled Golf that's been left in the dryer for one cycle too long. The rear-engine, three-door, four-seat city car from Volkswagen, dubbed the up!, aims to be the V-dub equivalent of the smart, with a small footprint (3,450mm long and 1,620mm wide) and inoffensive styling.

It's a strange dichotomy of sorts, with the 50-year old rear-engine drivetrain mated to a host of 21st century technology that allows on-the-go urbanites the right balance of size and cargo space. All the seats, except the driver's, fold down and can be removed, and once out they can be stored in the frunk (front-trunk) or in the rear cargo area. Naturally, drivers get climate control, sat-nav, and an on-board computer, along with a secondary screen for the co-pilot.

We'll have more details as soon as we get VW's official press release, but for the time being, you can check the gallery below for two dozen of live shots.

Gallery: VW up!

Continue reading Frankfurt 2007: VW gets it up!

Frankfurt 2007: VW gets it up! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 06:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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