VH_Supra26
11-12-2008, 12:09 PM
http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/v/w/vw_lupo_cabrio_rendering_002-1112-950x673.jpg
http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/v/w/vw_lupo_four_door_rendering_001-1112-950x673.jpg
http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/v/w/vw_lupo_sambavan_rendering_001-1112-950x673.jpg
http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/v/w/vw_lupo_two_door_rendering_001-1112-950x673.jpg
http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/v/w/vw_lupo_two_door_rendering_002-1112-950x673.jpg
http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/v/w/vw_up_variants_001_2-0917-950x673.jpg
The Lupo family of vehicles will include both three and five-door hatchbacks as well as an MPV and cabrio
It’s often the case that a radical concept car will be developed for a major car show only to be put away in storage never to be heard of or seen again once the show’s over. Fortunately for fans of the 2007 up! concept, Volkswagen won’t be mothballing its new baby. Instead it plans to launch a new family of compact vehicles all based around the original concept.
The new compact vehicles are expected to replace the current Lupo hatch (the two middle letters of the name ‘Lupo’ spell ‘up’ – the same naming practice VW used with the ‘Scirocco’ and ‘Iroc’ concept).
Some of the planned vehicles include a basic three-door hatch, a longer-wheelbase five-door hatch, a sporty cabrio, a five-door MPV, all previewed here in these latest computer generated renderings. There’s also a possibility of an SUV model, as well as a petrol-electric hybrid version and all-electric model. Furthermore, there are expected to be both premium and low cost versions, with the latter reserved for emerging markets.
VW’s U.S. chief Adrian Hallmark has previously revealed that the cabrio version of the Lupo will be sold in the States early next decade and that it will come with a soft-top manual roof and either full or mild hybrid drivetrains.
The carmaker’s CEO Martin Winterkorn has also confirmed that the Lupo will be offered with a front engine, FWD configuration only. The original up! concept car featured a rear-mounted engine spinning the rear axle but this option was ruled out due to cost. Placing the engine in the front will allow the Lupo to share more components with other VW models but interior space will be less than the rear engine option.
The decision to switch the engine layout will also cause a delay of up to five months in development time, with the final version expected to debut now in early 2011. The delay means that rival minicars, including Toyota’s new iQ and Fiat’s revived Topolino, will arrive on the market earlier than the VW.
Despite the production hurdles, VW is confident of selling up to half a million units of the Lupo each year and there are also plans to sell versions of the car under the Skoda and Seat brands as well.
Powering the car should be a compact range of three and four-cylinder engines, both naturally-aspirated and forced-induction, and both petrol and diesel.
All Content Copyright 2006-2008 Motor Authority
http://www.motorauthority.com/preview-new-vw-up-minivan-cabrio-and-suv.html
http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/v/w/vw_lupo_four_door_rendering_001-1112-950x673.jpg
http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/v/w/vw_lupo_sambavan_rendering_001-1112-950x673.jpg
http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/v/w/vw_lupo_two_door_rendering_001-1112-950x673.jpg
http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/v/w/vw_lupo_two_door_rendering_002-1112-950x673.jpg
http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/v/w/vw_up_variants_001_2-0917-950x673.jpg
The Lupo family of vehicles will include both three and five-door hatchbacks as well as an MPV and cabrio
It’s often the case that a radical concept car will be developed for a major car show only to be put away in storage never to be heard of or seen again once the show’s over. Fortunately for fans of the 2007 up! concept, Volkswagen won’t be mothballing its new baby. Instead it plans to launch a new family of compact vehicles all based around the original concept.
The new compact vehicles are expected to replace the current Lupo hatch (the two middle letters of the name ‘Lupo’ spell ‘up’ – the same naming practice VW used with the ‘Scirocco’ and ‘Iroc’ concept).
Some of the planned vehicles include a basic three-door hatch, a longer-wheelbase five-door hatch, a sporty cabrio, a five-door MPV, all previewed here in these latest computer generated renderings. There’s also a possibility of an SUV model, as well as a petrol-electric hybrid version and all-electric model. Furthermore, there are expected to be both premium and low cost versions, with the latter reserved for emerging markets.
VW’s U.S. chief Adrian Hallmark has previously revealed that the cabrio version of the Lupo will be sold in the States early next decade and that it will come with a soft-top manual roof and either full or mild hybrid drivetrains.
The carmaker’s CEO Martin Winterkorn has also confirmed that the Lupo will be offered with a front engine, FWD configuration only. The original up! concept car featured a rear-mounted engine spinning the rear axle but this option was ruled out due to cost. Placing the engine in the front will allow the Lupo to share more components with other VW models but interior space will be less than the rear engine option.
The decision to switch the engine layout will also cause a delay of up to five months in development time, with the final version expected to debut now in early 2011. The delay means that rival minicars, including Toyota’s new iQ and Fiat’s revived Topolino, will arrive on the market earlier than the VW.
Despite the production hurdles, VW is confident of selling up to half a million units of the Lupo each year and there are also plans to sell versions of the car under the Skoda and Seat brands as well.
Powering the car should be a compact range of three and four-cylinder engines, both naturally-aspirated and forced-induction, and both petrol and diesel.
All Content Copyright 2006-2008 Motor Authority
http://www.motorauthority.com/preview-new-vw-up-minivan-cabrio-and-suv.html