It mightn't share the original Beetle's mechanical layout, but the small, cheapish Up is a Volkswagen that carries on that first model's flame.
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(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
Up times six
Not only did Volkswagen present a production version of the Up city car (above), it also unveiled six new concepts based on the Up's platform.
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(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
Engine choices
Starting with the standard Up, three engines will be available at launch. The first two are petrol engines rated at 44 and 55 kilowatts. The third is a compressed natural gas (CNG) engine that outputs 50kW.
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(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
Small, light
While the engine outputs are small, remember that the Up is a tiny car. It's only about 3.5m from nose to tail and weighs just 930kg.
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(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
Efficient
Automatic engine start-stop technology, a five-speed automatic transmission and general tininess help the Up achieve fuel economy of around 4.7L/100km on the EU test cycle with its smaller petrol engine.
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(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
Pennies
When the Up goes on sale, it will sit beneath the Polo on the VW price scale.
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(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
More to come!
At Frankfurt, VW didn't just give us the production Up, it also showed off six more concepts that ranged from the mild to the wild.
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(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
Buggy Up!
A resident of the wild side, the Buggy Up is an homage to the dune buggies of yore, like the Mini Moke, with its open-top design.
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(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)
Lower, wider
The ride height and overall height have been lowered from the production Up; the Buggy is also wider and longer.
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(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
Cross Up!
The Cross Up has as much off-road prowess as the Mini Countryman (which is to say, not much), but it does ride higher than the standard Up. Most interestingly, the Cross Up gains an extra set of doors to aid ingress into its expanded rear seat.
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(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)
E-Up!
One of the most interesting Up variants is the E-Up, which, as you may be able to guess, is an all-electric concept version.
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(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)
Feeling electric
Power is provided by an 18kWh battery that sends energy to an electric motor with a regular output of 40kW, but 60kW is available under hard acceleration.
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(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)
On the range
Depending on the driver's right foot, the E-Up should be able to cruise for about 130km between charges.
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(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
Eco Up!
The Eco Up is another green Up concept. This time it runs on EcoFuel, which is VW's cutesy term for natural gas.
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(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)
Floor the gas
Like the standard CNG-fuelled Up, the Eco Up features automatic engine start-stop technology. However, this concept only emits 79g of CO2 per kilometre and fuel consumption drops from 3.2kg/100km to 2.5kg/100km.
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(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
GT Up!
The GT Up — giddy-up, get it? — is the Up concept for enthusiasts. Not only does it weigh less than the regular Up at just 900kg, it also outputs more power — 75kW, if you're curious.
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(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)
Rev it Up!
Simple instrumentation puts the tachometer front and centre in the GT Up's dashboard.
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(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)
Outsourcing
A dashboard-mounted iPhone supplies audio and telematics to the GT Up.
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(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
Homage
The power boost is provided by a turbocharged version of the standard Up's petrol engine. This concept is meant to pay homage to the original Volkswagen Golf GTI.
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(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
Up Arruzza Sailing Team
The last and oddest Up concept is the Up Arruzza Sailing Team. This nautical-themed, open-top concept features wood trim contrasting with its white paint. Presumably, "I'm on a boat" is playing on a continuous loop from its audio system.
Via CNET
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