VW Up! may get delayed
Posted by automobz on July 23, 2008
It is no scoop news that Europe’s biggest auto maker, Volkswagen, is planning a compact-car for India which will battle it out with the big players in the crowded small-car segment. Shown at the Auto Expo ’08 in New Delhi earlier this year, the Volkswagen Up! is the machine that has been at the top of everyone’s mind. And there’s news regarding the very machine which is touted as the genesis of the small-car that will intensify the battle in the small-car segment all across the globe!
The Volkswagen Up! was initially conceptualized as a rear engined, rear-wheel-drive, city runabout which would set new emission standards with extremely low CO2 level. But it all may swing towards the opposite direction. Reportedly, VW is having trouble to come up with a low cost rear-engine layout for this compact hatch and might actually offer it with the engine at front. And this change might see it becoming a reality only by 2011.
The engineers are experiencing trouble accommodating a radiator in Up!’s nose section and channelizing the coolant through the length of the car. The prototypes have also been criticized for being aerodynamically unstable. The VW Up! behaved badly when tested for cross-wind stability owing to the heavy back side that was laden with the weight of the rear-drive layout. So to counter these ill effects, the Up! may also experience some changes on the style front. The bumper may get deeper air dams to enhance cooling of the engine, if it is mounted at the front.
Being 3.5 meters long and 1.6 meters wide, the VW Up! will have cars like Toyota iQ and Mitsubishi i-Car as worthy contenders. VW claims that despite its tight dimensions, Up! will offer class leading space on the inside. The design and layout of the interior looks pretty high tech. VW is working on an engine that could have a capacity of around 600cc and will be offered in both petrol and diesel guise. To satisfy those who salivate whenever the term ‘hot hatch’ is mentioned, a three cylinder, 1.2L petrol mill can be considered too. To cater to broader spectrum of customers, Volkswagen may also offer Space Up!, which is longer version of the compact-car, Up!. The Space Up! is nine inches longer than the hatchback and will offer larger loading area, so in essence it is a minivan of sorts.
