New car news

22 August 2011 - 12:00

2012 Volkswagen Up revealed

You'd be forgiven for assuming that the both the new Beetle and the new new Beetle descend from the original, err, Beetle. But let's face, their kettle of fish is a very different one. They are fashion-conscious styling exercises. They are resolutely not tiny, cheap people's cars.

But the new Up, which was unveiled today four years after the concept landed, could be (though it's officially called the up! [sic], but we won't tolerate such grammatical trespasses). It is small (3540mm long and 1640mm wide), it is cheap (around $12-14,000) and it is pleasant to look at (the styling's not changed massively from the concept we saw back in 2007).

See more pics of the VW Up here

So, is it rear engine'd/rear drive like the Bug? No. But rumblings around Wolfsburg suggested it was tantalizingly close to being so - the Germans decided that all-new architecture was too pricey so settled on trad front-engine/drive underwear. 

You'll get to choose between two three-pot engines at launch, which make 43kW or 55kW, and there's an electric e-Up coming in 2013. Both the petrols are very very clean, though - in BlueMotion flavour with stop-start tech they'll return 3.5 litres per 100km and emit less than 100g/km of CO2.

Despite the absence of an engine mounted in its derriere, the Up looks like it'll be pretty dynamic. There's bugger-all body overhang and each wheel sits right out in each corner.

The packaging also means it gets more boot space, too. 951 litres with the back seats folded down, to be precise.

Vee Dub's also tipping an inordinate amount of stuff into its little three-door (a five-door model's coming later). Even the poverty-spec Take Up gets stuff like stability control, six airbags and power steering as standard. There's also a comfort-focused Move Up and range-topping High Up. Oh, Volkswagen, you punsmiths...

Word from senior Australian VW management types suggest that the Up is on its way here, thanks to the absurdly strong Aussie dollar (you can also thank the dollar for the Sirocco R). Even the planets align, it should lob here late next year.

So, is this the new Beetle, internet? And can you think of any better Up puns?