PoloDriver

Typical. We go on holiday and one of the autumn’s biggest potential stars is unveiled to the world. After months, no, years of speculation, and ahead of its Frankfurt motor show later this month, Volkswagen has released the first official images of the up! – its much promised city car. Errant exclamation mark and trim level names (‘take up!’, ‘move up!’ and the range-topping ‘high up!’) notwithstanding, we like the idea and the car itself, and it should prove popular. A monobox in silhouette, the up! is an all-new design and according to Volkswagen, ‘offers maximum space on a minimal footprint.’

New 59bhp and 74bhp three-cylinder petrol engines make their debut in the tiny tot, while an electric version is in the pipeline. Technology also features heavily to lure in city dwellers, with VW’s new Personal Infotainment Device making its debut. The system has been developed to organise navigation, telephone, information and entertainment, and was designed in cooperation with Navigon. The up! goes on sale in continental Europe in December; UK prices and specifications will be released nearer the diminuative car’s on sale date here. Read more for the first official VW details.

The new up! – small but perfectly formed
The first photos of the Volkswagen up! have been released, ahead of the new small car making its debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

The up! is an entirely new design, offering maximum space on a minimal footprint (3.54 x 1.64m), making it ideal for driving in the world’s cities. It will be launched in Europe in December. There are three versions for different budgets and needs: take up! is the entry-level car, move up! the comfort-oriented model and high up! the top version. At the car’s market launch, there will also be two models based on the high up! – up! black and up! white.

Making its debut in the up! is a new generation of three-cylinder petrol engines, with outputs of 60PS and 75PS. Combined fuel consumption as a BlueMotion Technology version (including a Stop/Start system) is 4.2 l/100 km (60PS), and CO2 emissions for this version are less than 100g/km. There are also plans for an up! with electric drive.

An important new safety technology in the up! is the optional City Emergency Braking system. It is automatically active at speeds under 18mph, and uses a laser sensor to detect the risk of an impending collision. Depending on speed and situation, City Emergency Braking can reduce accident severity by initiating automatic brake interventions that can even avoid a crash. So far, the up! is the only vehicle in the segment to be offered with this function.

At 3.54 metres in length, 1.64 metres in width and 1.48 metres in height, the up! is one of the smallest four-seater cars. Its overall length consists of short body overhangs and a long wheelbase of 2.42 metres. Use of space in the car is exceptionally good, because of the wheelbase, which is one of the longest in the segment, combined with an engine that is mounted well forward. The 251-litre boot is also significantly larger than is typical in this class. When the rear seat is fully folded, cargo space is increased to 951 litres.

The interior is as colourful as it is capacious, with either decor paint or body colour (depending on the equipment line) used in the interior, including across the dashboard facia. The clean and well-organised layout of the interior of the up! also offers clever details, fun styling and a level of quality that will enhance the market segment.

For the first time in a Volkswagen, the ‘maps + more’ system is now being offered, which is a mobile Personal Infotainment Device (PID). In the economically priced up! this is an equally economical system that was developed to organise navigation, telephone, information and entertainment, and was designed in cooperation with Navigon, one of the world’s leading suppliers of navigation systems. 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 more effectively: navigation, telephone and infotainment can be controlled and viewed via the ‘maps + more’ touchscreen, which can also be used to view vehicle information, such as the display of the parking sensors (where fitted). Apps specially developed for the up! also let users extend ‘maps + more’ to meet their specific needs.