Europeans to Get Version of Up! Before Rest of World Sees VW's New Small Car

Europeans to Get Version of Up! Before Rest of World Sees VW's New Small Car

VW will launch its Up! ultra compact in Europe before the rest of the world gets a taste of the little car that made such a big hit as a concept at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show.

That's what VW Group's production chief, Joachem Heizmann told the subscription-only trade journal Automotive News Europe in a recent interview.

The Up! will make its initial bow in Europe in 2011, with other global markets to follow. The German automaker ultimately hopes to sell 500,000 of the city cars annually, in a variety of models.

Volkswagen's plan is to make both upscale and basic models, perhaps in several styles. To go along with the original 3-door hatchback concept it has shown a mini-minivan-like model called the Space Up! (above) as both a gasoline-burner and a fuel-cell electric hybrid model.

One big change from the concept shown at the Frankfurt show is that VW reportedly has changed the production models from rear-drive to front-drive platforms.

European analysts for Boston-based Global Insight economic and market consulting have found that distressing, commenting in a recent newsletter that  "many observers" believe a front-wheel drive Up! "will merely compete with the other homogeneous contenders in the sector, rather than setting itself apart."

The production car also may well be badged as a Lupo instead of Up!

VW hasn't said yet whether U.S. consumers looking for small, fuel-efficient people movers will get to include the Up! on their consideration lists, although there has been talk of using the underlying platform for the next-generation Beetle, also due in 2011.

We'd likely get the larger minivan platform, as befitting our more generous proportions, VW insiders have said.

Hmmm.

We've no room to criticize, but with American heft entering the discussion a lot when talking about the market here for downsized city cars with rally great fuel economy (figures like 60-80 mpg have been tossed around for the Up!), it's interesting to note that researchers at the University of Illinois found in a 2006 study that on average, Americans were 24 pounds heavier in 2002 than in 1960 and that each extra pound of body weight had increased national fuel consumption by 39 million gallons of gasoline a year.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

John O'Dell:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.