New Small Family

With the up! car, Volkswagen is once again presenting a study which has what it takes to inspire more than just one whole generation. The name rings of dynamism and a new dawn, the concept is innovative and self-explanatory. This was enough to impress the British motoring magazine “Autocar”, which conferred its coveted Concept Car Award 2007 on the up!. And it’s no surprise when you consider that the two-door city specialist actually offers room for four despite its ultra-compact exterior.

Dominant design characteristics are the headlamps that slope diagonally inwards, the horizontally arranged air inlet between them, the front luggage compartment hatch that extends a long way forwards, as well as the smooth bumper surrounded by a continuous black stripe, a trait of the characteristic Volkswagen “happy face”. A special touch is added by the VW badge: sporting a chrome finish at the front, at the rear it is behind glass and illuminates when the lights are switched on.

In view of its exterior dimensions, the interior space in the up! is a revelation. The same is true of its versatility: apart from the driver’s seat, all seats can be folded flat, removed and conveniently stored in one of the two luggage compartments. The entire length of the passenger compartment can thus be used for carrying items. Occupants nevertheless enjoy the usual high standard of seating comfort: in similar fashion to a self-inflating airbed, air can be sucked into the seat surfaces via a valve, allowing the seats to mould themselves exactly to the anatomy of the occupants.

The up! study furthermore takes ease of operation into a whole new dimension. In the words of Klaus Bischoff, design chief for the Volkswagen brand: “One of the reasons the up! is so fascinating is that everything, every final detail, was thought out anew. In the interior we have a touchscreen with new proximity sensor technology for controlling the navigation, radio, trip computer and air conditioning. Its operation is absolutely intuitive. As a result, controlling even the most complicated functions becomes child’s play.”