In an interview with Automotive News, Renault managing director Patrick Pelata has confirmed that a new Renault city car will be presented, to compete with the Smart ForTwo, and the future Fiat Topolino and Volkswagen Up!. It’s possible that the new vehicle will be based on the Twingo, but no confirmation was made. News regarding whether the new electric technology presented on the Kangoo BeBop Z.E prototype is unavailable.

Source | Carangoblog.com

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At the Barcellona car show, Seat president Erich Schmitt has expressed his faith in the future of the company, underlining the 15,000 jobs saved from the risk of lay-offs thanks to the VAG group decision to produce the future Audi Q3 in the Martorell factory.

During the presentation of the new Ibiza Bocanegra, the announcement was also made of a new small Seat to be based on the Volkswagen Up!, already revealed by VW itself. Schmitt said: “We are preparing to enter a smaller segment compared to the Ibiza. Thanks to the platform of the New Small Family vehicles that will be built in Bratislava, Seat will launch a small car that will be aimed at a younger public. Never before has the Seat future looked so promising.”

After mentioning the growth in quality of the Seat offering, and consequently it reaching fourth place among European manufacturers for customer satisfaction, Schmitt also focused on the need to cut production costs, saying this would be achieved through increasing employee productivity.

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The concept of “premium” is mercurial these days, bandied about left and right, it’s difficult to see the lines between average and superior. How we define the concept of premium is now, anyone’s guess: as evidenced by the arrival of the Audi EV.

Judging by the render it will be a pleasant and well-proportioned compact. But this EV, no more than Volkswagen UP! with electric engine, has been described by WorldCarFans as small, electric, trendy and, you guessed it, premium.

While “premium” based on its ecological friendliness would make sense, it’s more difficult to respect “premium” achieved through luxury finishes like fibre optics, chrome and, as WorldCarFans says “fancy wheels”. Still, the render is not bad.

Source | World Car Fans

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The revolutionary Volkswagon up! looks destined to go by the wayside, which will be a shame as the engine and rear wheel drive could have given it a place in history. But it seems that it will remain a concept only.

As we saw a little while ago, the step from prototype to series could damage the originality of the small car, presented in Frankfurt. If the rumours become true, anyone who got excited about this new “real Beetle” will be regretting their exclamations.

Technical problems appear to have resulted in engineers abandoning the project, according to internal reports. After the jump, we give you the details.

Continue reading: Volkswagen up!: rear wheel traction but technical problems

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