Volkswagen has announced that it will begin selling the very compact Up! in Europe this December. VW says the goal with the 4-seat front-drive Up! was to create a small car with charisma, but one that also has maximum interior space and a minimal overall footprint.
By the looks of the car, VW has succeeded in building that car. More important, the 139.4-in. Up! will be fitted with two very fuel-efficient engines or an electric drive, making it an ideal car for everyday urban living. For the record, the Up! is quite a bit more compact than the Golf sold here in the U.S., and even a bit smaller than the European-market Polo.
A new generation of 1.0-liter 3-cylinder gasoline engines will power the Up!, one with 59 bhp and another with 74 bhp. Aided by a Stop/Start system, these cars will get 56 and 55 mpg, respectively, in the European test cycle, which is slightly easier than our EPA test. VW also says that a natural gas engine with 67 bhp is in the works, with a claimed combined fuel economy equivalent of 73 mpg. What’s more, there are also plans for an electric Up! in 2013.
Stops automatically? Yes, it does. The Up! is fitted with an important new safety technology system called City Emergency Braking. An option on the car that’s active at speeds under 18 mph, the system uses a laser sensor to detect the risk of an imminent collision. Depending on speed and the driving situation, City Emergency Braking—like that found on some Volvos—can reduce the severity of an accident (or avoid a crash altogether!) by initiating automatic brake interventions. VW says the Up! is the only vehicle in its segment with an emergency braking function for city driving. (more)
Keep Reading: 2012 Volkswagen Up! – First Look >>
Photos: 2012 Volkswagen Up! >>
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