Brazilian interns design new Volkswagen city car concept

We've been seeing small city car concepts from Volkswagen for years now, usually wearing some sort of Up! badging along with a promise of zero or nearly zero emissions. Apparently, a team of Brazilian interns for VW are fed Up! with all these similarly-named concepts, as they've taken it upon themselves to make their own, which they've called the VW In.

Kauré Martins, Rogério Okabe, Guilherme Motta and Wadson Gomes Amorim – winners of the "Talento Volkswagen Design 2008" – designed a vehicle that would theoretically match up with the Smart Fortwo, and it could be powered by any number of drivetrain possibilities, including a fully electric version with wheel-mounted motors.

Perhaps a more realistic option for the two-seater – especially considering the German automaker's recent tie-up with Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Suzuki – would be a two-cylinder powerplant that could potentially run on biofuels such as ethanol. Check out the image gallery below and hit the jump for the press release.

[Source: Volkswagen via Carscoop]

PRESS RELEASE

Volkswagen IN Concept: Product Description

Project developed by the interns of Volkswagen Design Brazil, winners of the "Talento Volkswagen 2008" contest. Aimed at developing the professional, creative and entrepreneur skills. Bringing fresh ideas to the company and a new mobility proposal.

We live in a time of changes in man-object relations. People wear not only with clothes, but with everything they consumes, seeing beyond the physical atmosphere of the products to absorb their values and concepts.

The proposal of Volkswagen IN is to align global trends for the development of the automotive industry, thinking of a car for nowadays that aims to minimize the traffic-jam of big cities, applying the concepts of sustainability and customization, creating a compact and versatile car, that fills most of the needs through creative solutions and especial materials.

Bringing the successful concept of the Volkswagen FOX called "Designed Around the Passenger", this project try to went a step forward, creating a 2.5 meters car for two people plus luggage, with the same comfort of the Volkswagen FOX, but with a clever use of each free space inside this, optimizing the relations between one person and the size which a car need to have to transport him.

This micro car takes advantages of the plug-in hybrid Technologies and in-wheels electric engines to provide even more inner space, and moreover this project contemplates the use of a small combustion engine fueled by ethanol, getting closer to the reality of small developing countries.

Innovating in an automotive product is not only to create an attractive shape, but also to rethink the solution for problems caused by this product. Acting effectively on solutions for the society, environment and mobility, considering individual desires of each customer, is the best way for a successful product.

Despite of the age or the needs of each user, this car is the answer for all those who increasingly are concerned with saving time and the environment.

Authors: Kauré Martins, Rogério Okabe & Guilherme Motta