Volkswagen is redrawing the map of the small car world. At the end of this year, it will roll out a small car with charisma, with maximum space on a minimal footprint, with the most fuel-efficient engines or an electric drive, with intuitive infotainment and operating systems, and of course the safety of a large car. This new up! measures a short 3.54 metres and is a specialist for everyday urban living.

Hans Knol ten Bensel  

Affordable

And because a small car needs to be affordable, a new financing model known as AutoCredit2 that is exclusively tailored to up! buyers will offer greater financial freedom thanks to its flexible configuration options.

And for many people, this will make the goal of driving a safe and economical new car more attainable than ever. Like the Beetle back in the 1950s, one could say that the up! Is once again “democratising” car driving.

 3 versions

The up! will first be launched in the European market. It all starts in December. There are 3 versions for different budgets and needs: take up! is the entry-level car, move up! the comfort oriented one and high up! the top version. At the car’s market launch, there will also be 2 independent models based on the high up!: the up! black and the up! white.

New generation of three-cylinder engines

Debuting in the up! is a new generation of three-cylinder petrol engines.

They output 44 kW / 60 PS and 55 kW /75 PS. Combined fuel consumption as a BlueMotion Technology version (including a Stop/Start system): 4.2 l/100 km (60 PS) and 4.3 l/100 km (75 PS). Both of these 1.0-litre engines emit less than the 100 g/km CO2 limit.

A natural gas engine with 50 kW / 68 PS with the same basic configuration will follow. Its combined fuel consumption of 3.2 kg/100 km (natural gas) is equivalent to a CO2 value of 86 g/km; as a BlueMotion Technology version the natural-gas powered up! even attains a low CO2 value of 79 g/km. There are also definite plans for an up! with an electric drive for the year 2013.

First small car with City Emergency Braking

An important new safety technology system is the optional City Emergency Braking. It is automatically active at speeds under 30 km/h, and it uses a laser sensor to detect the risk of an

imminent collision. Depending on the vehicle’s speed and the driving situation, City Emergency Braking can reduce accident severity by initiating automatic brake interventions – and possibly even avoid a crash.

Dimensions and styling for the world’s metropolitan areas

Extremely long wheelbase. With its noted 3.54 metre length and 1.64 metre width, the up! is one of the smallest four-seat cars. The Volkswagen is 1.48 metres tall. Its overall length consists of conspicuously short body overhangs and a very long wheelbase (2.42 metres) – a body layout that fully utilises the space available in the new design.

The up! is by no means a cramped vehicle. Consider the boot: 251 litres are significantly more than is typical in the vehicle class of the up! When the rear seat is fully folded, cargo space even increases to 951 litres.

An interior design with fun

The new Volkswagen also offers numerous clever solutions, fun styling and all this at a level of quality that will enhance the market segment. Especially high-end is the Dash Pad, an instrument pad extending crosswise in front of the driver and front passenger.

up! boxes – small things that make a big difference

The developers of the up! asked themselves whether everyday living with the car could be structured in a simpler and friendlier way.

And that is how the idea of the up! boxes came about. Small, lightweight boxes for a wide variety of situations and needs. Take the “kid box”, for example, that was designed for parents with small children; it includes a bag for the thousand small items that are essential with small

children; and of course a toy to cuddle with and a lunch box for the obligatory snacks.

Other up! boxes will be called the “city box” and the “travel box”.

Maps + more – the Portable Infotainment Device (PID)

For the first time in a Volkswagen, the maps + more system is now being offered, a mobile Portable Infotainment Device (PID).

In the economically priced up!, this is a system that is equally economical and was developed to organise the navigation, telephone, information and entertainment areas.

In cooperation with Navigon, one of the world’sleading suppliers of navigation systems, a special solution was tailored to the up! which is affordable for all buyers – maps + more. The user simply snaps the PID into place above the centre console.

Unlike many other similar systems of this type, maps + more melds with the car’s network of systems much better: navigation, telephone and infotainment can now be controlled and viewed via the PID touchscreen, and the touchscreen can  also be used to view important vehicle information, such as the visual display of the ParkPilot (controls the car’s distance to the next vehicle).

Needless to say that we are eagerly awaiting the introduction of this car in December…

Hans Knol ten Bensel