Volkswagen Up!

VW has released images of its next production small car, the Up! ahead of its Frankfurt debut next month. It's almost four years to the day since the first concept Up! Since then, we've followed it on a journey through Space, Blue and e concept variants and a conceptual change from rear-engine, rear-wheel drive to an entirely traditional front-engine, front-wheel drive layout.

Yet the Up!'s design (we'll save commentary on VW's use of grammar for a later date), appears to have lost little in its journey to production design. The core two-box proportions with short overhangs remain, as does the gum-shield lower bumper insert, up-kicking DLO and the simple, refined surfacing seen in the concept Up! that's since spread throughout VW's range. We'll have to wait until Frankfurt, however, to see whether the playful detailing and quality refinement that characterized the 2007 concept have survived the journey to production.

Measuring 3540mm long by 1640mm wide and 1480mm tall, the Up!'s long 2420mm wheelbase allows space for four inside, and some particularly impressive packaging and space figures. The interior features a customizable infotainment system with Up!-specific apps, a compact, Beetle-like dashpod and a customizable upper IP in body color, a la Fiat 500. Customers can further enhance their Up! via a series of add on ‘Up! boxes' designed around themes such as "kids", "city" and "travel".

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