SCOOP! VW Up spotted in India

Here are the very first undisguised pictures of Volkswagen’s all-new Up hatchback, spotted in New Delhi. The hatchback is poised to be a show-stopper at the upcoming Auto Expo 2012 in the capital.

Seen here is an entry-level variant of the three-door version of the hatchback that misses out on alloy wheels and front fog lamps. Instead it gets steel wheels with covers and black-coloured door handles and outside rear-view mirrors. It’s safe to assume that this model will be used purely as a ‘show car’ at the Expo since, for the Indian market, VW will only launch the five-door version of the Up and it will be positioned below the Polo.

Holding true to the look of the original concept, the production Up has a simple two-box silhouette. Among the more distinctive design flourishes is a large front bumper featuring a low-set, rectangular grille. This, together with large, angular headlights, helps to give the Up a more expressive face. Pronounced wheel arch flares are aimed at emphasising the Up’s wide tracks, giving it confident stance by small-car standards. At the back, the tailgate has an outer glass cover and vertical tail lights which, though part of the body, look integrated with the hatch.

VW claims it has been able to provide the new car with class-leading levels of interior space through the use of a wheelbase that provides the Up with ultra-short overhangs. Along with seating for four adults, the Up also offers 251 litres of luggage space, extending to 951 litres with the rear seats folded.

Unlike the 2007 Up concept, which used a rear-engined, rear-drive layout, the production car has a more conventional transverse, front-mounted engine and front-wheel-drive architecture. The Indian-market Up will get an all-new range of fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines ranging from 1 to 1.2 litre.

We expect the car to be launched in India at the end of 2013 and the biggest challenge for Volkswagen will be to price this car competitively. We understand that the German manufacturer is targeting at a price range of Rs 3.5 - 4.5 lakh.