The All New 2014 Volkswagen "Up"

Source : Mr. Manish Khopkar 
               (Volkswagen India Research And Development)

2014 Volkswagen "Up" !!!

BASE PRICE                   : Rs. 2.5 Lacs [estimated]

VEHICLE LAYOUT       : Front-engine, FWD, 5-pass, 

                                            3-door or 5-door hatcback

ENGINE                          : 1.0L/60-hp or 75-hp DOHC 12-valve I-3

TRANSMISSION             : 5-speed manual, 5-speed auto-clutch

                                            automatic

CURB WEIGHT               : 2050 lb (mfr)

WHEELBASE                  : 95.3 in

LENGTH x WIDTH x      : 139.4 x 64.6 x 58.3 in

HEIGHT 

0-60 MPH                          : 13.2 sec (mfr)

FUEL ECON                     : 50 mpg (est)

Volkswagen, as you likely know, roughly translates to "people's car" in German. Decades ago, what it really meant was the Beetle, an inexpensive means of getting four people and a bit of cargo to their destination. Today, it means the Up!, which carries the same mission statement.

The Up! is like that better.... A lot better. The Up! is a pretty stylish little car, if you're into German minimalism. The funky lines in the fascias and window borders bleed European postmodernism, as does the always-blacked-out, all-glass rear hatch. Love it or hate it, you certainly won't miss it. Me, I'm still trying to decide whether it's grinning or if it's been gagged.

The Up! is a better-quality car. The materials, though rather inexpensive by Volkswagen standards, aren't even close to the worst we've seen in a sub-$15,000 car. The fit and finish is certainly up to Volkswagen standards. The ride is a bit firm, befitting its German roots, but it still handled Rome's bumpy cobblestone streets nicely. If ride comfort were the only measure of a car, I'd have rather been driving those streets in the Up! than the Ferrari 599 I saw enduring them.

The Up!'s econo-car superiority over the Metro reigns inside the car as well. Feels more spacious inside,while it's no limousine, you'll able to put adults in the back seat without crushing them or the folks up front. In fact, everyone will have a decent amount of room with no knees in seatbacks or the dash. And while the trunk isn't big, it'll hold a pair of suitcases and the adjustable load floor (flat or deep) is a handy feature. On top of all that, it's even got a bit of style to match the exterior. The body-color or contrasting-color plastic dash face is a clever dress-up borrowed from the Fiat 500, and the controls are simple and ergonomically friendly. Again pulling from the Fiat playbook, the optional integrated portable nav system is actually a pretty slick feature, because it provides a de facto infotainment system handling the stereo, navigation, Bluetooth, and even onboard telematics.

Thank You.