Volkswagen recently announced a December 2011 release for the company’s diminutive up! minicar. The automaker has developed three versions of this four-seat vehicle including the budget-friendly take up!, the family-sized move up! and the upscale high up!. Customers can expect an initial production round with fuel-efficient gas engines followed by an up! line powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). The primary goal with this multi-tiered release is to build buzz in Europe for minicars as well as CNG drive systems currently under development by VW.
The gasoline-powered up! features a 44kW, three-cylinder gas engine as well as VW’s BlueMotion Technology. Customers will also discover a more powerful 55kW engine in the high up!. VW estimates a 56 mile per gallon rating for the up! based on EPA standards. Engineers at VW have improved upon features of BlueMotion Technology including tires with lower resistance and fine-tuned transmissions. The up! line also incorporates start-stop technology that reduces gas wasted while the engine idles and kicks into gear from full stops.
The CNG-powered up! line does not have a firm release date though VW will likely release this model early in 2012. VW followed a similar template to the traditional up! by using a 50kW CNG engine that can keep up with the standard engine. The vehicle’s range was not announced in the press release though VW used BlueMotion Technology in conjunction with the CNG engine. This drive system should achieve a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to the standard up!. VW also hinted at development of an all-electric up! minicar that could be ready for production by 2013.
The VW up! could become more noteworthy for the City Emergency Braking system than the CNG drive system. VW’s City Emergency Braking system features a series of sensors initiated when the vehicle travels faster than 19 miles per hour. These sensors detect possible obstructions on the road including vehicles, barriers and pedestrians. This advanced braking system alerts drivers to these obstructions and provides automatic braking to avoid impact. The City Emergency Braking system should offset concerns about minicars by European and American consumers. VW’s up! series might be among the smallest vehicles on the market but this innovative braking system could be replicated throughout the industry.
