The new Volkswagen Up (have we finally dropped the exclamation mark…?) is planned to be a big seller for the company as the Volkswagen Group continues its push to become the world’s biggest automaker. Replacing the Volkswagen Lupo, these pics show the new Up to be a substantial looker despite its A segment size.

The new Volkswagen citycar measures 3.54 metres long, 1.6 metres wide and 1.48 metres high, with a wheelbase of 2.4 metres to provide ultimate interior room. With a simple design and practical layout, Autocar says Volkswagen designer Klaus Bischoff claims optimal space utilisation on the model, while maintaining a compact size for city use.

The Up comes in smaller than the three-door Volkswagen Polo and should be slightly cheaper as well - whether it’s cheap enough to compete in emerging markets will be seen only when it gets a worldwide release sometime throughout 2012. The Up uses Volkswagen’s MQB front-wheel drive platform with a transverse, one-litre petrol fuelled engine providing 59 hp, or 74 hp with added boost pressure.

Continue reading: 2012 Volkswagen Up

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The Skoda Joyster concept looks like it will get a production version, although we have to step back in time for this one - it was originally presented back in 2006 at the Paris Moto Show. The three-door sports model production rumour has been revealed by German magazine Autobild, who says that the VW Group has given the green light.

The Skoda Joyster will take on a slightly different role in its production version, and will probably be developed off the Volkswagen Up! model. The Up! itself will become the new Volkswagen Lupo citycar model, and the Joyster will represent the Czech brand in this segment.

The new compact car should be developed ready for sometime 2012 and will be a low-cost option to the Lupo. The VW Lupo will probably have a starting price of about 10,000 euros, while the Joyster should have an entry level price tag around the 9,000 mark (we would even hazard about 8,000 because 1,000 euros difference doesn’t seem enough to warrant a different model). We don’t know if Skoda, like Volkswagen, will develop its own electric version, too.

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The Volkswagen Lupo is the new citycar to be developed on the basis of the Volkswagen Up! concept first presented at the Frankfurt motor show back in 2007. The new Lupo could appear on the market in summer 2011 in a three-door version which will be about 345 cm long. It would cost about 8,500 euros.

The Lupo will have the new 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine with 60 hp, and the new 1.0 TSI, four-cylinders with 85 hp. They both should have very low emissions and fuel consumption and will make a nice citycar option to round off the Volkswagen line-up. The company plans to sell about 600,000 units a year.

The Lupo range will then expand from 2012 with a longer wheelbase, five-door version planned. It would represent the series model of the Volkswagen Space Up! concept and will likely be called Lupo Plus. In 2013 an electric E-Lupo version will emerge, which in turn is the series model of the E-Up! presented at last year’s Frankfurt show.

Source | AutoEvolution

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