VW Up: the inside story (2011)

By Georg Kacher (artist's impression by Larson)

Spyshots

12 September 2008 09:00

CAR Online today publishes a secret dossier on the new VW Up – revealing everything we know about the diminutive new city car from Wolfsburg. We've already revealed how the Up will switch from rear- to front-engined, but today we flesh out the rest of the story.

Dubbed New Small Family (NSF), Volkswagen's new baby now follows the template set by the revolutionary new Toyota iQ. Why switch to conventional front-engine layout? Simple. It'll save VW €750 million. That's £600m...

Why will the front-engined VW Up cost so much less?

In R&D and procurement costs alone, VW insiders tell us they will slash €400m (£320m) from the bill. Add to that greater economies of scale, reduced investment in tooling and greater production flexibility, and a further €350m (£280) rolls off the cash register.

Make no mistake, this strategic handbrake turn is an accountant's dream. It will, however, delay the titchy-tiny VW Up by a full year...

And will the production Up look different?

Thankfully not. The U-turn has negligible effect on the well received design. Our artist's impressions reveal how the three-door production NSF should look and it's been compiled with the help of inside sources at VW's design centre.

Shifting the engine to the front means a slightly longer nose to accommodate the lump. Well placed design sources suggest the snout stretches to 50mm longer, but insist the overall effect is the same.

Don't forget the original NSF concept already had a front-mounted radiator for even weight distribution, so there is no need for larger or repositioned air intakes and suchlike.

Click 'Next' for more on the production VW Up/NSF