Light and bright: the ABT Volkswagen Up to debut at Geneva motor show
As if being new and distinctive wasn’t enough, renowned Volkswagen Group tuner ABT has focused its attention to the smallest member of the VW family, the Up, releasing details of a very bright styling kit. The Kempten, German-based company says that the red, white and black kit ‘draws upon the extravagant designs of the “Swinging Sixties” with which the power versions of plain mass-consumption cars – from “Herbie” the Beetle to Renault Gordinis and Mini Coopers – showed that sensible can also be cool.’
The father of ABT Sportline’s managing director was very much into his motorsports and was successful, too, both inspirations which the tuner has used to embellish the small Volkswagen. Still ecological and economic, the graphics lend an aggressive air, with the champfered window line, front and rear bumper ‘smiles’, and side skirts being picked out in contrasting red on this white car. A black roof and bonnet matches the glass tailgate, while the white stripes evoke those classic white lines of blue Renault Gordinis.
Lowered suspension springs and a fruitier twin-pipe exhaust with red-trimmed tunnel help the sporty looks, too, while mirror caps and ABT-branded red hub covers complete the makeover. The car will debut at the Geneva motor show next month, where we expect ABT Sportsline GmbH to release final and official pricing details.
