Volkswagen Up! Concept (VW's Answer To Daimler's Smart Car Alert)

VW Vortex ^ | 9/10/2007 | VW Vortex

[Luke Skyfreeper]

Looks a lot better than that stupid "smark" car.

I want to be in charge of the marketing.

"Make an 'up!' yours today!!"

[rockinqsranch]

Sheeeeeeezzz! No way would I buy one of those things. I’ll stick with my Saabs.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Ford should roll out a competitive model.

Think ‘le Car’. But smaller.

Something based on the proven Focus platorm. Miniaturized.

It could be sold as the “Foc”.

[goldstategop]

There will be a lot of competition for the emerging city car market. People will demanding a car that's small enough to park in the crowded city, maneuverable on busy streets and yet which is comfortable on the inside, can hold a lot of cargo and is safe. No one wants to drive a glorified Yugo. The automaker that can deliver on these demands will rule the city car market of the future.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Oh. Wait no, I’m sorry.

The Ford I was thinking about is the “Ka”.

That would sell a million, if they would SELL IT HERE!...

(hint... hint...)

[Cringing Negativism Network]

I envision a Kangaroo in our future.

Think for a moment, of the ubiquitous RV, towing a Jeep.

Now. Plaster the top of the RV with solar panels. Power it with a plug-in hybrid powerplant, which for short bursts cross country, could run entirely from solar power.

Make the Jeep smaller. Something along the lines of the Venture One. (a soon-to-be available tilting three-wheel hybrid). Integrate the “pod”, right into the RV, so it charges from the same solar array.

Now sell the entire unit as one.

Presto. A reborn American auto industry.

Good for our technology job base, too...

[MarkL]

One thing I see is a car that's going to be incredibly expensive to repair after even low speed collisions. The last time I was rear-ended at a stop light in my Corolla, the repair cost was over $2500, and the only parts that needed to be replaced was the rear bumper and light assemblies. A rear impact on this VW would be catastrophic.

Mark

[bruinbirdman]

"something based on the Up! platform could not only be sold here in the USA, but "

Chrysler/Daimler sold plenty of PT Cruisers in South Nevada before they shut it down. And I have seen a few Scion Boxes.

VW says it has a motor, but what is it? Two stroke, air cooled?

yitbos

[FreedomCalls]

It looks like the bastard demon spawn of an AMC Pacer and a Microsoft Zune.

You're obviosly not a part of the target market. I sense you are a Ford Crown Vic kind of guy.

[Mr Rogers]

Kinda like my 1975 Honda Civic - 144” long, 60” wide, held 4 tiny people in comfort, 2-3 adults in some pain. Hope it has more than 53 HP...gotta show some progress over 35 years!

[Centurion2000]

not bad ... make it a high efficiency diesel and rip out that touch screen crap and replace with decent analog stuff and you have a REAL winner with the cheap college crowd and people needing a cheap commuter.

[FreedomCalls]

When Honda and Toyota can get better fuel mileage out of a safer and more stylish car at a cheaper price, why would anyone want to buy something like this.

Wow. What's with the VW hate? You have no idea what the mileage of this is and no idea how safe it is -- so it's impossible to compare to Honda or Toyota. Yet you make a blanket statement like that.

[FreedomCalls]

Ford should roll out a competitive model. Think ‘le Car’. But smaller.

Isn't the Ford Ka just that?

[Centurion2000]

Make the Jeep smaller. Something along the lines of the Venture One. (a soon-to-be available tilting three-wheel hybrid). Integrate the “pod”, right into the RV, so it charges from the same solar array.

Now sell the entire unit as one.

Presto. A reborn American auto industry. Actually that would give apartments a run for their $$. The ultimate road warrior. Need a worker in Las Vegas for 2 months ... no problem .... 6 months in Ohio .. done ... then onto whereever the job market takes the contractor.

Hmmm ... something like an ultra high tech bedouin.

[Mr Rogers]

Try here: http://www.1stgencivic.com/

Kinda looks like a Honda Z600

What is a Honda Z600?

The sporty Z600 coupe was introduced in the US in 1971 with a total production of 40,586 sedans and coupes were sold here. Approximately less than 2-1/2% remain today of that number of which most were sedans.

The 2door Z600 hatchback originally had a 345cc engine in the Japanese market, a more robust 599cc engine was squeezed in for the European markets. It came in basic colors of primarily orange, yellow, olive green and blue. The power plant was a Air-cooled, two cylinder SOHC aluminum engine, this gas miser came through during the oil crisis of the 70’s giving the owners a excellent fuel efficient car, it was rated to get approximately 40mpg while it only held 6.9 gallons of gas.

The Honda Z600 was built on a 123in x 51in chassis and approximately 51in high with a Curb weight of 1312lbs. Given it’s small size it was found to still give reasonable comfort to the driver and front passenger. The back seat would be described as storage only because of the little wiggle room in the back. This car had some interesting advances like retractable seat belts and a in dash seat belt warning system, front wheel drive and power assist brakes.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

I love that car.

Wanted one from the first time I saw it.

Instead my (American car) is a lot bigger.

Faster, I might add. But I really want one of those.

[Cobra64]

My Ford F-450 Super Duty pickup truck will crush that little thing UP!<.I>

[I see my hands]

Pleasing to look at. Imagine without the smilie and front logo.. even better.

[dit_xi]

Whatchutalkin’bout, Willis? What sh*t? I do drive a F-450 truck (mainly to tow my fishing boat). If my truck collides with that li’l Volkswagen Up thing, it WILL get pulverized.

[FreedomCalls]

My Ford F-450 Super Duty pickup truck will crush that little thing UP!

It would take an extremely stupid person to choose a Ford F-450 as an urban runabout car. Likewise, how often do you park your behemoth in urban parking garages? The two of you should never meet -- different vehicles for different uses. This UP! won't show up on the farm pulling horse trailers and your F-450 won't be parking in the parking lot of the student union at Boston College.