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Volkswagen Up's Spyshots Hit Internet
The Volkswagen Up, the German carmaker's cheapest car ever is set for an India launch later next year. The car was expected to be displayed at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo in Delhi in January but Volkswagen disappointed us then. We had earlier reported about a Up being transported on a flatbed truck in Mumbai days before the auto show. This had triggered our expectations of seeing the Up in the metal at the Auto Expo.
The Volkswagen Up's spyshots have now emerged in the internet after people saw the small hatchback on a highway near Pune. The Up did not have any body-clading and was even a right hand drive model. The Up which was initially designed with two doors has been added with two more doors to suit Indian sensibilities.
The Up could be the game changer for Volkswagen which has seen its sales come down in the past three months. However, VW has not confirmed the Up's India launch now as it has to procure several parts that are currently available only in Europe. Manufacturing the UP in India without much localization will make the Up highly priced. Hence VW is still scouting for local parts manufacturers who can help it keep the Up's price at an affordable level.
The Volkswagen's Up's spyshots show the car having premium interiors which might not be available in an entry level car. IF Volkswagen remains true to the Up's current trim the hatchback could be more expensive that previously believed. However, since there is still some amount of doubt of the Up making its way to India in the near future, we believe the Up seen near Pune is just being tested as part of Volkswagen's efforts to asses the car across the globe.
The Volkswagen Up is already on sale in Europe and is available with a petrol engine tuned to generate 74bhp and 59bhp. Mated to a five speed manual gearbox, the engine is quite capable of delivering a exciting drive for a city car.
The Up has been copied by Volkswagen AG's Czech brand Skoda which has rebranded it as the Citigo. VW's Spanish brand Seat has also its own version of the Up. Skoda has shown interest to launch the Citigo in India but sources say Volkswagen would prefer to launch the Up in India before the Citigo.
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