Volkswagen introduces six Up! concepts in Frankfurt 09/22/2011
When a car company shows off a new concept car, it generally brings one, maybe two, variations to the stage. Since the Frankfurt International Motor Show is the largest, and most-talked about auto show in the world, Volkswagen decided to step up their conceptual game. They brought six concepts to the show for the New Small Family of compact cars - the Buggy Up!, Up! Azzura, Cross Up!, GT Up!, Eco Up! and the e-Up!
"We pushed our design teams and these are the results," Volkswagen's research and design director Ulrich Hackenburg told The Telegraph. "Some are crazy, but the sporting GT is very realistic, although it is important to have a turbocharged, three-cylinder engine to put into it, and the Cross Up! is also realistic."
The GT concept is the Up! model for people who live for the thrill of driving. It may not stand up against regular sports cars, or even many regular sedans, but the compact vehicle's engine is upgraded for the 74-horsepower engine designed for the other models to one that can generate up to 100 hp. Its design sets the new car apart from the other members of the concept Up! family, and it features the same honeycomb grille as the GTi, as well as 17-inch wheels and a roof-mounted rear spoiler.
The e-Up! can get up to 80 miles on a full charge, and the Eco Up! is a hybrid concept that runs on natural gas instead of petroleum in its 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine. The Buggy Up! and the Up! Azzura are designed for cruising along the water's edge, and the Cross Up! is intended for everyday driving.