Skip to main content

ads1

Tokyo show: VW grows up

Japan may be the land of the miniature solution, but VW's up! Concept has grown for its visit to Tokyo.

VolkswagenVolkswagen-2Volkswagen-3This is the space up, minivan version of Volkswagen's baby city car we saw back in Frankfurt. Unveiled at the Tokyo show, it sits on a longer wheelbase than its three-door sister, and has grown in length by 23cm and height by 40cm.

However, the space up! (anyone else hating that name already?) is still 15cm shorter than the VW Fox - seriously dinky for a four-seater.

The clean lines (or contrived retroism, depending on your point of view) of the styling remain similar to the original up!, and the engine is still strung out at the rear. VW is still touting the flexibility of the concept, and reckons it could be powered by a petrol, diesel or electric motor.

Insiders reckon we could see two- and three-cylinder engines powering the production up!, depending on the market: expect China and India to get the most frugal, low-cost versions, while Europe could see higher-powered variants.

VW has promised yet another up! concept at the Detroit show early next year. We're not expecting a coupe-convertible, but in this crazy world of lower-case proper nouns and unexpected exclamation marks, anything could happen.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

First Drive: 2008 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Volkswagen’s 50-state-compliant Jetta TDI will be among the cleanest diesels in the U.S. Previews Amid the looming hordes of European luxury automakers planning a North American compression-ignition invasion in the next couple years, humble Volkswagen has announced its plans to return the Jetta TDI to the diesel dogpile in the spring of 2008. Powered by a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, and either a six-speed manual or DSG automated manual transmission, the 2008 Jetta TDI will be cleared for sale in all fifty states. Some of the earlier diesels to make it to our shores over the next few years will only be available in 45 states; California, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont have all adopted stricter emissions regulations for diesels that bar some vehicles from entry. Using technology developed under the BlueTec cooperative formed by Mercedes-Benz and Vo
Post a Comment
Read more

smart fortwo, Unique Car Popularized in 'The Da Vinci Code' Movie, To Be Formally Introduced to Midwest by Windy City Smart Car

Models Displayed, May Be Driven at January 30 News Conference in Chicago Two smart fortwos smart fortwo, the popular, safe, environmentally superior automobile sold in 36 countries but not the U.S., is being formally introduced for the first time ever to Chicago and the Midwest on Tuesday, January 30 by independent distributor Windy City Smart Car and Smart Car Midwest, LLC, Palatine. Several models, including the smart fortwo Passion coupe and smart fortwo cabriolet convertible, will be unveiled at an 11:00 a.m. press conference at the film and television studios of Golan Productions, 1501 N. Magnolia (three blocks east of the Kennedy Expressway and a half block south of North Avenue). smart fortwo is featured in "The Da Vinci Code" motion picture. The car's introduction to Chicago comes a year or two ahead of smart fortwo's official entry into the U.S. The smart fortwo, a collaboration between Swatch and Mercedes, is made U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Dep
4 comments
Read more

2007 Alpine Imprint RLS Demo Car based on Mercedes-Benz R500

Making Its Mark: The IMPRINT RLS The birth of the IMPRINT RLS marks the beginning of a new sonic era. While the exterior flaunts a sleek, elegant, one-of-a-kind style, the interior also houses the core Alpine IMPRINT sound technology – making its mark as the absolute show-stopping vehicle for 2007. The IMPRINT RLS by birthright started off as a Mercedes Benz R500 , and was slowly morphed into a car that transcends all laws of space and time. This futuristic concept-like car was brought to life by Alpine’s Advanced Application R&D team, Steve Brown, Gary Bell, Brent Davison with the help of Alpine Canada’s Glen Swackhamer and Rino Odorico. Breathing life into the RLS required a complete dismantling, relocating, building, and reinforcing experiment. Extreme modifications include gas and brake pedal relocation to allow the car to be driven from either front seat. To continue Alpine tradition of unconventional door and seat combinations, the IMPRINT RLS features a unique rotating assem
Post a Comment
Read more