Black Dynamic Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf GTI Dynamic Black is an amazing vehicle, not because of a serious horsepower under the hood. This trip is special because it is the result of the project by nine months of internship Volkswagen - four young women and five young men - ages 18 to 24.
According to Volkswagen, the 'Apprentice Golf GTI 2012' begins to give young designers and up-and-coming to put their skills to the test in real automotive projects. The result is a Golf GTI Black Dynamic, which makes its world debut at Worthersee GTI meet in Austria.As part of the revamps given to the vehicle, styling internships completed a number of key upgrades, including Deep Black exterior metallic finish combined with anthracite trim the film flat, matte gray hood with honeycomb decals, LED lights, and a new set of black rims.



Meanwhile, the interior all the custom features produced by the students themselves. For example, sports seats have red-lined black leather and Alcantara. They also go and dress interior door trim with red stitching decorative, visually expressing the two-tone red and black themed interior, while also connecting the 1800-Watt sound system that comes with nine speakers.

Source : Topspeed.com

Carrier of next-generation Volkswagen ET!

This is the eT! concept. While the Kombi kommunity waits for word on a production version of the popular Bulli minibus, Volkswagen's latest concept offers a preview of the next-generation Transporter and Multivan.

The eT! study continues the familiar boxy styling of the brand's current hauler, while adding the usual concept flair: wide guards, sharp headlights, a futuristic interior and, of course, an electric powertrain.

Power for the eT! comes from four electric motors - one in each wheel - and while power figures have not been revealed, Volkswagen says it took this approach to ensure maximum carrying space in the van's cargo area.
Electric powertrains have become par-for-the-concept, but Volkswagen has given the eT! a number of features that could one day prove a boon for tradies and couriers.
In the cabin, the unique "Drive Stick" means the driver can control the van from either side of the vehicle, while the passenger side offers a standing seat and an electric sliding door that opens to two stages: front access and rear cargo access.

“We analysed process flows and customer needs in detail, and from these analyses we derived ideas on how the segment of delivery and courier vehicles could be further developed over the long term," Jürgen Leohold, Director of Volkswagen Group Research, said.

Volkswagen has also blessed the eT! with a degree of autonomy: a "Follow Me" feature allows the vehicle to follow the driver as he walks from house to house, store to store. That's a good one for the milk man.
There's also a "Come to Me" feature, which will see the eT! navigate to the driver on its own.

We shouldn't expect the autonomous driving abilities to feature on a production model anytime soon, but it does show some promise for the future.

"Naturally, the eT! is not a vehicle which – unlike the Golf or up! with an electric motor – could become available very soon," says Rudolf Krebs, Group Manager for Electric Traction at Volkswagen AG.

"But we must make plans today for what the world of lightweight commercial vehicles might look like starting in the second half of this decade, including with regard to electrical drives."

Exactly when the eight year-old T5 Transporter will be replaced is unclear, but Volkswagen says the eT! concept will soon begin driving test studies, so we might see it in showrooms on the other side of 2015.

Source : themotorreport.com.au

Small Car Volkswagen

Volkswagen is launching a new small car: the VW up!. A city specialist for many of the world's countries. A car with charisma and great potential. In Germany - the debut market - advance orders are already being taken for the new up! with prices starting at 9,850 euros. The new Volkswagen will officially launch in successive steps beginning in late December 2011.

3 impressive equipment versions and 2 exclusive models
Three equipment versions are offered for different budgets and needs: take up! is the entry-level version, move up! the convenience-oriented model, and high up! is the top version. At market launch there will also be two upgraded models based on the high up!: the up! black and up! white.
2 petrol engines with 4.2 and 4.3 litre fuel economy
On a minimal footprint (3.54 metres long), the Volkswagen up! offers maximum space for 4 people and highly efficient powertrain technologies. Making its debut in the up! is a new generation of three-cylinder engines. The petrol engines have power outputs of 44 kW / 60 PS and 55 kW / 75 PS, fulfil the Euro 5 emissions standard and drive the front wheels. Combined fuel consumption values for the BlueMotion Technology version (with such features as a Stop/Start system, battery regeneration and tyres optimised for low rolling resistance): 4.2 l/100 km (60 PS) and 4.3 l/100 km (75 PS). Both 1.0-litre engines satisfy the 100 g/km CO2 emissions limit.
Natural gas engine sets record values for sustainability








A natural gas engine with 50 kW / 68 PS will follow with the same basic technology as the petrol engines. This Volkswagen up! EcoFuel BlueMotion Technology will attain a groundbreaking low CO2 value of 79 g/km. At the 2011 IAA in Frankfurt, Volkswagen presented a nearly production-ready concept of this extremely clean natural gas version - the eco-up!. There are also firm plans for an up! with an electric drive in 2013, and a study of the up! Blue-e-Motion was shown at the 2011 IAA in Frankfurt as well. Just as new as the engines are the car's two new 5-speed gearboxes (one manual and one automatic version); they are among the lightest of their types in the world.
World's first small car with City Emergency Braking
The entirely new VW up! is also the first car in its class in the world to have a City Emergency Braking function, which automatically brakes the car over a speed range from 5 to 30 km/h, when traffic gets tight.
Debut of the multi-talented maps+more system
Another entirely new feature appearing for the first time in a Volkswagen is the maps+more system - a portable touchscreen module. It contains a navigation system, hands-free telephone unit, display of factual information related to the vehicle and a media player. In addition, it will now be possible to use apps to tailor maps+more to a driver's highly individualised personal requirements profile. maps+more is snapped into place above the centre console where it interfaces with the electronics network of the up!. In the economically priced up!, a system was developed for organising the areas of navigation, telephone, information and entertainment that is just as economical. The portable device was also designed so that it could be brought up to the latest software levels via a simple update. In cooperation with Navigon, one of the world's leading suppliers of portable navigation systems, the special solution maps+more was created; it is tailored to the Volkswagen up! and is affordable for all buyers.
New model for financing, insurance & maintenance
In launching the up!, Volkswagen is not only putting a new car in motion; it is also redefining the parameters of financing, insurance and maintenance. Individual modules in Germany are now being merged into the new up!grade package: AutoCredit2 is the name of the special financing for the up!, in which customers can split the contract period into two halves with different instalment rates. As a result, AutoCredit2 enables new flexibility in car buying. In addition, FairPay insurance offers enormous cost savings - in some cases as much as 1,700 euros per year based on a financing or lease contract. FairPay insurance is a complete vehicle liability and full comprehensive insurance programme for customers 23 years and older (at a minimum no claims class "SF1") for a fixed price of 19.90 euros per month. Those who sign a contract by 1 December 2011 will even get FairPay insurance for 9.90 euros per month. And for younger customers too, the comprehensive FairPay insurance is available for a monthly price of 49.90 euros - or just 39.90 euros if signing by 01 December 2011. The third part of up!grade even covers maintenance and routine servicing costs for the up! at a low fixed monthly rate (from 11.90 euros per month in Germany for a 48 month contract period and 10,000 km/year). Never before has a programme of this type been offered in the vehicle class of the up!. Quite possibly, such a programme could only come from Volkswagen!
up! exterior
At 3.54 m in length and 1.64 m in width (without door mirrors), the up! is one of the smallest of four-seat cars. The Volkswagen is 1.48 m tall. Its overall length consists of remarkably short body overhangs and a very long wheelbase (2.42 metres) - a body layout that fully utilises the available enclosed space.
up! front end
Viewed from the front, the up! appears to smile, due to the lines of the bumper. And it is intentionally smiling. A narrow black band runs between the headlights (with integrated daytime running lights). Integrated here is the Volkswagen logo, which is the only chrome element at the front end. The up! can make do without large air cooling intakes due to its small petrol and natural gas engines and electric motor that will follow later. The headlights are significantly smaller than those of other Volkswagens, yet they are visually very prominent. Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design of the Volkswagen Brand comments: "The front-end designs - from the up! to the Phaeton - all follow the same styling guidelines. The models are unified by such style elements as a strict emphasis of horizontal lines, joining of the grille and headlights and the conciseness of short angles. And yet, despite their clear brand affinities all Volkswagens are differentiated from one another. Crucial here are the differences in the proportions of the individual components. This leads to highly individual vehicles that span the model range from the congenial up! to the sophisticated Phaeton."
up! side profile
In side profile, the significant flares of surfaces and alternation of convex and concave forms define the car's styling. A slight concave groove above the side sill creates an accent in the continuous surface. The side profile does not show any seams or edges except for the wheel housings and the look of the side windows. The wheels are placed in powerful wheel housings, whose lateral surfaces - the so-called wheel mirrors - are very large, making the diameters of the small wheels (14 to 16 inch) appear visually larger.
The look of the windows gives the Volkswagen up! an unmistakable look as well. A short angle in front creates a formal connection from the lower-lying window edge to the bonnet. A long ascending line in the rear third of the vehicle matches that formed by the rear wheel and the C-pillar. This interplay of lines reinforces the image of the C-pillar being supported by the rear wheel - a characteristic which - in interaction with the long wheelbase and short overhangs - underscores the crisp proportions of the up!. Over the short, steeply-rising bonnet, there is another line that leads over the windscreen and roof to the rear. There, the car's silhouette first follows the side windows then finishes in a nearly vertical curve down to the bumper. This linework is unmistakable.
up! rear section
The up! has a large bootlid, which extends down to the bumper. This so-called hybrid bootlid consists of 3 basic layers. Similar to a modern smartphone, its outer skin consists of a transparent glass element. The bootlid forms an integral unit with the vertically oriented rear lights. In detail, the bootlid is constructed of a load-bearing framework upon which a second sheet-metal layer is laser welded in place with the integrated trailing edge of the roof. The outer third layer of the bootlid is the glass element that is joined by adhesive. It extends down from the trailing edge of the roof over the entire bootlid; that is, it incorporates the rear window as well as the lower area of the lid. The border around the rear window and the lower section are coated in black from the inside. Forming a contrast to the black are the chrome surfaces of the Volkswagen logo and the up! badge. The bootlid is opened by pressing a button in the handle beneath the Volkswagen logo.
Unmistakable rear lights
Although they look like parts of the bootlid, the large tail-lights of the up! are actually joined to the body. Their red surfaces are very distinctive, especially in their interplay with the white C-shaped elements. The lower third of the rear section is dominated by the bumper with its wide licence-plate panel and seam running around it. The front and rear bumpers are painted in body colour as standard.
Aerodynamic refinements
With a Cd value of 0.32, the new up! achieves exemplary aerodynamic performance for its class. The results: less wind noise and lower fuel consumption. At Volkswagen, the first steps in refining a car's aerodynamics are made in a very early project phase utilising a simulation process known as CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics). Because of its cost and time advantages, this process has since replaced evaluation and optimisation with real 1:4 models. In this context, an important aspect of the process is its ability to very realistically represent vehicle details digitally. Step by step, this method optimises a car's aerodynamics on the computer. Not until this process has been fully exploited are wind tunnel measurements conducted on a real full-scale aerodynamic model at a suitably mature development level. This aerodynamic model is covered with an exterior skin of clay, enabling quick changes to the vehicle shapes. In addition, the 1:1 model already has realistic shapes of engine compartment and underbody structures. In turn, this enables quick optimisation of parts that are very important to aerodynamics such as the front and rear spoilers and underbody panels. The designs of aerodynamically relevant add-on parts are then finalised based on measurements from the first prototypes.
Eliminating every superfluous gram of CO2 emissions in the wind tunnel
In establishing the car's aerodynamics, special attention was given to attaining a minimal front overhang. With this goal in mind, the sides of the front section of the up! were shaped so that the air would flow around the wheel housings with minimal turbulence. In the pursuit of reducing every possible gram of CO2 emissions, the position and size of the front spoiler was also optimised progressively. Measurement series in the wind tunnel demonstrate that this refinement of the design has saved another 1.1 g/km CO2 - that may seem like just a little, but the sum of all optimisation measures has yielded impressive values such as the 79 g/km CO2 that the up! EcoFuel BlueMotion Technology will attain. At the same time, the final front spoiler design reduces front and rear aerodynamic lift coefficients of the Volkswagen up!. This has resulted in even safer driving characteristics.
Total aerodynamic drag is a very good 0.67 m2
The design of the rear section also has a crucial effect on the car's aerodynamic performance. Intensive fine tuning of the aerodynamics of the up! has resulted in contours that both preserve styling targets and achieve defined flow separation, including in the side panels at the rear. In the process, the rear spoiler contour was tuned to the design of the lateral trailing edges. The sum of all of these measures yields the Cd value of 0.32 mentioned above for the take up!, which is very good for a vehicle in this class. In conjunction with the vehicle's frontal area of A = 2.07 m2 the total aerodynamic drag of the up! attains a very good value of 0.67 m2.
High eco-friendly rating for the VW up!
Considering the car's aerodynamic properties, weight reductions and efficient drive technologies, it is little wonder that an environmental analysis of the new up! has produced very positive results. Background: Volkswagen analyses a vehicle's impact on the environment (ISO standard 14040/44) over its entire life cycle (manufacturing, usage, recycling). The results of this analysis flow into an environmental rating. And a high rating is exactly what the new up! has already received ahead of its market launch. This rating was confirmed by the independent testing company TÜV Nord. A basic result: the environmental impact of the up! over its lifecycle was reduced by 21 per cent compared to that of its predecessor.
Top levels of safety and quality
Weight down, crash safety up - this is only possible with innovative manufacturing technologies. The body materials of the up! have 8.1 per cent "hot-formed" steel content, and so the parts exhibit extreme toughness (including the floor and B-pillars); car body weight was reduced by 13 kg just due to the use of hot-formed steel. Moreover, by consistently downsizing engine technology, using high-strength steel and relentlessly removing every superfluous gram, developers succeeded in reducing the weight of the new up! by 140 kg or 13 per cent to 929 kg compared to its immediate predecessor (the Volkswagen Fox) - that is a world of difference, and not only in this class.
Body largely consists of special high-strength steels
In the area of the front side members, sills and side roof frame, so-called dual-phase steels are used which, together with hot-formed steel panels, create the basic structure for the safety occupant cell. The Volkswagen up! also sets top values in the segment with its 39.3 per cent share of ultra-high-strength steels and 17.2 per cent share of high-strength steels. Only 24.9 per cent of the weight of the body structure consists of conventional deep-drawing steels, which are used for visual parts that are very challenging to manufacture, such as exterior parts of the side body or rear wheel housings.
Comfort standards of the next class up
The especially rigid body structure of the up! even meets comfort levels of the next vehicle class in terms of its acoustic and vibration behaviour. This is attributable to the layout of nodes and load transmission points. Background: the available installation spaces are optimally utilised by means of a three-shell body structure, so that the occupant cell is surrounded by sturdy, computationally optimised profiles. Despite challenging requirements for body rigidity and crash properties, the car's lightweight index - a measure of the efficiency of weight utilisation - was improved by 34 per cent compared to the predecessor of the up!, the Lupo. The up! also sets new standards in its class with its static torsional rigidity of 19,800 Nm/degree. High torsional rigidity has a definite positive effect on comfort and handling properties. In parallel, the dynamic rigidity of the up! is also excellent at 49 Hz - and this benefits acoustics, vibration and driving comfort. In its smallest model, Volkswagen is clearly following the same maxims of safety, quality and comfort it follows in every other segment - without compromises.
Safe like a large car
The up! demonstrates that small cars can exhibit very good passive safety characteristics. In this Volkswagen, not only are the passengers themselves optimally protected, but so too are other traffic participants. The keyword here is pedestrian protection. In this area, the up! rises to the challenge with such features as its new, compact three-cylinder engines, directly screw-mounted ancillary engine components and the very compact gearboxes. Thanks to the suspended layout of the gearbox mounts next to the side members, it was possible to mount the battery in a very low location - and this low mounting point is essential for good pedestrian protection. Overall, the deformation space between the bonnet and engine block helps to minimise the risk of injury to pedestrians. The hinges of the bonnet were also further optimised for this purpose.
Early Crash Sensor reacts before impact
To protect passengers in the up!, as already mentioned the body structure consists of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels in the areas of highly-loaded load paths. Additional reinforcements, in the upper door, for example, increase passive safety - especially in case of severe accidents. In the event of a frontal collision, an Early Crash Sensor - integrated directly behind the front bumper - pre-activates restraint systems in advance of the actual impact. What happens then is a case for high-speed cameras: within just a few milliseconds, the belt tensioners tighten the fastened seatbelts to involve the driver and front passenger in the vehicle's deceleration as early as possible. Belt force limiters reduce chest loads. Front airbags restrain movement of the upper body. The crash-active steering column makes an additional contribution towards safety, further reducing the risk of injury to the driver. In case of a side impact, the standard head-thorax airbags contribute to protecting the head and upper body of the driver and front passenger.
No unfastened seatbelt goes unnoticed
ISOFIX child seats are a safe place for children in the rear seating area thanks to ISOFIX and top-tether fittings; this system securely fastens the child seats to the car. If older children are aboard, the standard seatbelt status indicator in the multifunction display informs the driver of whether the rear passengers are actually buckled up. There is also an acoustic fasten seatbelts reminder for the front seats.
up! interior
Space utilisation in the car is exceptionally good, because of its wheelbase - one of the longest in the segment - together with a compact engine mounted well forward and a new running gear design. The driver, front passenger and rear passengers are travelling in a small car, but it is by no means cramped. The newly developed modular seats - which serve as the basis for a wide range of seat variants for specific up! versions - offer very good driving comfort. The front seats of the up! are 15 per cent lighter in weight than comparable concepts. The head restraints for the driver and front passenger are firmly attached to the seats - in the style of sports car seats. The advantage is that, regardless of a person's stature, they always give a proper fit. In the rear, fixed head restraints are less desirable, because they would detract from an optimal rear view for the driver; that is why they are equipped with conventional height adjustment.
Ergonomics and comfort like in the higher vehicle classes
As is typical of Volkswagen, the up! team under the leadership of Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg (member of the Board of Management for Technical Development) placed great emphasis on good ergonomics. "The up!," says Hackenberg, "really is perceptibly more comfortable, because its occupants do not sit too low, and it offers ample leg support and knee room. Detailed refinements characterise the entire interior. Compared to the Lupo, for example, we positioned the steering column and steering wheel higher, but we designed the angle to the driver to be somewhat more horizontal. This has clearly improved the car's ergonomics."
Small space wonder
The car's interior dimensions support these remarks by Dr. Hackenberg; headroom in front is an impressive 993 mm, and 947 mm in the rear. The seats are positioned at a good height both front and back; for the driver and front passenger, the so-called H-point - the vertex where the seat and seatback meet that is relevant here - is at a height of 306 mm; in the rear the H-point is at 378 mm. This somewhat higher seating position for rear passengers affords them a better view over the shoulders of the driver and front passenger.
Utilising every millimetre
The up! is practical, through and through, in part due to its numerous storage compartments. Along with a large storage bin in the centre console and the glovebox, there are storage surfaces and bottle holders (up to 1.0 litre bottles) in the two doors, 3 cupholders in the rear (3-door vehicle) and 2 bag hooks and a variable cargo floor in the boot (from the move up!). Two examples of attention to detail: the glove compartment is equipped with a holder for pens and pencils, a notepad and coins; there is also a compartment for eyeglasses; a coat hook was integrated in the B-pillar in such a way that it is visible through the window from outside, and so it can be found optimally - the typical search for this hook is a thing of the past in the up!.
Well-organised instruments
In terms of instruments and user interfaces, there are three central elements: the instrument cluster in front of the driver, the switch module in the middle of the vehicle with radio-CD and climate control and the detachable information, entertainment and navigation unit maps+more (radio-CD system, air conditioning system and maps+more are optional features). The instrument cluster consists of one or three (from move up!) analogue instruments and one digital display. In the move up! and high up!, for example, the largest of the three round analogue instruments is the speedometer in the centre with the integrated digital multifunction display that is an optional feature here. The multifunction display also displays information relating to City Emergency Braking and operational information of the Stop/Start system. To the left of the speedometer there is the tachometer, and to its right is the fuel gauge.
Intuitive controls
Controls for the ventilation or air conditioning system, radio-CD system, hazard indicator lights, seat heating and rear window defrost, as well as the switch for deactivating the Stop/Start system, are all located in the central dashboard module between the driver and front passenger. The entire unit is located up high - so that it is easy to see and use - and it is painted in a sophisticated glossy black. An interesting observation about the networking of systems: every up! is fitted with its "own" individual wiring harness. This "electrical system" is pre-configured for the features of each individual up! car, and it is fed into production in a just-in-time process. The advantage: unnecessary cabling is not installed, which reduces costs and weight.
Clean colours

Essentially, the up! interior has a very clean and well-organised layout. In addition, the new Volkswagen offers fun styling and a level of quality that will enhance the market segment. Especially high-end is the dash pad, the design panel in front of the driver and front passenger. Depending on the equipment line, the dash pad is either styled in grained beige or painted black (move up!) or it is in body colour (high up!). While the upper section of the dashboard is always in "anthracite", buyers of the move up! and high up! can order the lower dashboard section in the alternate light colour "beige". In this case, the centre console, door inserts and side trim panels in the rear are also in "beige".
Large bootspace in the small up!
At 251 litres, the boot sets a best-in-class value for cargo capacity. And when the seatback of the rear bench is completely folded down, the up! can handle 951 litres of cargo. In this case, a nearly flat cargo surface is created. Since the front passenger's seatback can be folded down, large sports equipment or pieces of furniture with a length of up to 2.0 metres can be transported in the up!. The boot itself is upholstered with carpet, and so is the cargo area cover, which opens wide and can be quickly removed if necessary. A variable cargo floor that can be adjusted to two different levels is available as an option in the up!. At the upper position, when the rear seat bench is folded down (in just seconds), the upper cargo floor position creates a nearly level cargo surface, and small objects can also be stowed beneath the cargo floor in this position. The lower cargo floor position is used if especially large and bulky objects need to be stowed in the boot. All of these details show that inside, the up! is a giant among small cars.
Volkswagen up! features
Regardless of the engine selected, the new Volkswagen is offered in the 3 equipment versions take up!, move up! and high up!. In addition, Volkswagen has designed 2 highly upgraded models based on the high up! that will also be offered at market launch: the up! black and up! white. An overview of all features of the up!:
take up! - the economical entry level
Outside, the small Volkswagen in this version is equipped with 14-inch wheels, body-coloured bumpers and green tinted heat-insulating glass. As on all up! models, the body is also partially galvanised, for long-term protection against rust. Inside, details such as the Easy Entry system, folding rear bench seat, colour contrasting frames of the air vents and centre console (in "white"), carpeted flooring and a fabric-lined bootspace cover are used. Convenience features of the take up! include a rear windscreen wiper, electromechanical power assisted steering, height-adjustable steering column, convenience direction indicators (1 press = 3 flash cycles) and daytime running lights. The gloss black panel at the middle of the dashboard (in which controls are integrated for the heating / ventilation and optional audio system, for example) is particularly elegant.
Small car, great safety
When it comes to passive and active safety, standard features include front airbags and head-thorax side airbags plus a seatbelt fastening reminder for driver and front passenger, belt tensioners in front, ABS with ASR, ESP electronic stabilisation programme (in Germany), ISOFIX fixtures and top-tether fittings for mounting suitable child seats in the rear and a deactivation function for the front passenger airbag (when using a child seat on the front passenger seat).
move up! - the clever mid-range
At the next customisation level, the equipment line is called the move up!. Its safety equipment is identical to that of the take up!. The differences lie in its exterior, interior and convenience features. The door mirror housings and door handles of the move up! are painted in body colour; the full wheel covers and inner headlight housings are upgraded with chrome elements. Inside the car, the air vents and the area around the climate and audio controls are designed in glossy black; the dash pad is either grained beige or the alternate painted black. The driver's seat has height adjustment, and the interior door handles are chrome. Standard convenience features include central locking with wireless remote, Easy Entry system with memory function, electric windows in front, split rear bench seats, variable cargo floor, a glovebox door, make-up mirror in the sun visor on the passenger's side and tachometer.
high up! - the sophisticated top version
The high up! is high-end in the truest sense of the term. Compared to the move up!, its exterior is upgraded with 15-inch alloy wheels ("spoke" type). Front fog lights contribute to the car's safety. Inside, customers can order the dash pad in "black pearl", "pure white", "red", "light blue" or "dark silver". The speedometer has a chrome surround as do the air vents and the surround of the centre console. Also designed in chrome are the parking brake grip and the switches for the lights and climate control. Perfecting the car's comfort are features such as electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, RCD 215 radio-CD system with MP3 function, an air conditioner and a leather pack (steering wheel, parking brake grip).
The exclusive up! black
Volkswagen is celebrating the market launch of its new model series with 2 exclusive models based on the high up! - the up! black and up! white. Compared to the high up!, the up! black adds standard exterior features such as pearl effect paint in "black pearl" and silver 16-inch alloy wheels ("classic" type) including black centre covers and size 185 tyres. Also standard here: a chrome look for the door mirror housings, fog light surrounds and side trim strips. The rear windows have an elegant dark tint starting at the B-pillar. At the front ends of the doors, the special model sports a "black" signature.
up! black interior
The interior also makes a customised appearance. Here, the VW up! black is characterised by exclusive seat patterns in a grey-black tartan look and contrasting white seams as well as model-specific modifications to the leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear shift grip. In addition, the dash pad is painted in "black pearl". Completing the upgrades are floor mats with contrasting colour borders as well as door sill plates, gear shift grip and steering wheel badge with the "up!" signature. Meanwhile, the extensive set of convenience features is perfected by the RCD 215 audio system and maps+more pack with 5-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth hands-free telephone unit, navigation system and other functions.
The exclusive up! white

As might be expected, the exterior customisation of the up! white is like that of the up! black, except for its colour. The wheels of the up! white are white, while the matching paint is called "pure white". Inside, the dash pad and the outer areas of the door trim are painted in white. Also white: contrasting seams and piping and the decorative seams of the trim covers for the gear shift and hand brake grips.
Colours and wheels
One person's taste is not the same as another's. And so, one up! will hardly look like another. This is already guaranteed by the extensive colour and wheel options for this Volkswagen. Eight exterior paints, five wheel types (14 to 16-inch), two interior trims, six different colours for the dash pad (including a grained beige version) and eight types of seat covers will satisfy any taste.
My up!
As with any car, classic individual features are available as special options. They include a very large panoramic tilt/slide roof, the RCD 215 audio system, maps+more (see "Technologies" section), a sound system and a sport chassis. up! features can also be extended by what are known as "packs" that are offered for specific versions. Take the example of the "comfort pack" for the take up!. It includes electric windows, central locking with wireless remote, height-adjustable driver's seat, dual-tone fanfare horn, warning buzzer for lights left on and a parking light switch mode. The "winter pack" for the move up! extends the car's features to include seat heating in front, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors and fog lights. Developed for the move up! and high up! is the drive pack "plus" with cruise control, ParkPilot at the rear, multifunction display and City Emergency Braking. Exclusively tailored to the high up! is the "sport pack" with 16-inch alloy wheels, sport chassis and tinted windows from the B-pillars back.
"up! boxes" - small things that make a big difference
The developers of the Volkswagen up! asked themselves whether everyday living could be structured in a simpler and friendlier way with the car. Their answer was a definitive "yes," because it is often the small things that make a big difference. And that is how the idea of the up! boxes came about: small, lightweight boxes for a wide variety of situations and needs. Take the "kid box", for example, that was designed for parents with small children; it includes a bag for the thousand small items that are essential with small children; and of course a toy to cuddle and a lunch box for the obligatory snacks. Other up! boxes will be called the "city box" and the "travel box". And their names describe what they are for.
up! technologies
The up! is a small car. Yet, today even small cars have to handle tremendous technical tasks. More than ever, stringent requirements for fuel efficiency, safety, comfort and infotainment demand tremendous efforts in small car development. This especially applies to the up!. This car, launching as a two-door model, is a completely new design. A look at its technologies - with new engines and gearboxes as well as multimedia modules - makes this very clear.
Efficient petrol engines with 1.0 litre displacement
Making its debut in the up! is a new generation of three-cylinder petrol engines (EA211). Although the 999 cm3 four-cylinder engines share the 82 mm cylinder spacing of Volkswagen's successful EA111 engine series, they are completely new engine designs. The engines output 44 kW / 60 PS and 55 kW / 75 PS, fulfil the Euro 5 emissions standard and drive the front wheels. Combined fuel consumption values for the BlueMotion Technology version (with such features as a Stop/Start system, battery regeneration, low-friction ancillary engine component drives and tyres optimised for low rolling resistance): 4.2 l/100 km (60 PS) and 4.3 l/100 km (75 PS). Both 1.0-litre engines satisfy the 100 g/km CO2 emissions limit. These petrol engines can be ordered with either the standard 5-speed manual gearbox or an optional 5-speed automatic gearbox, also new.
Natural gas engine with record value of 79 g/km CO2
A natural gas engine with 50 kW / 68 PS with the same basic technology will follow. Its combined fuel consumption of 2.9 kg/100 km (gas) is equivalent to a groundbreaking CO2 value of 79 g/km; the up! EcoFuel will launch on the market as a BlueMotion Technology version as standard. At the 2011 IAA in Frankfurt, Volkswagen already presented a nearly production-ready concept of this extremely clean natural gas version in the form of the eco-up!. There are also firm plans for an up! with an electric drive in 2013, and a study of the up! Blue-e-Motion was also shown at the IAA in September 2011.
Variable intake camshaft
The new petrol and EcoFuel engines, all produced from aluminium, are as compact as they are lightweight, and they were systematically designed for the least possible internal friction. The two overhead camshafts are driven by toothed belts; the intake camshaft is variable - this further reduces emissions and fuel consumption and improves the power curve in the lower rev range. The valves are activated by cam followers with very low friction. The engine's dual-circuit cooling system and integrated water-cooled exhaust manifold ensure short engine warm-up times, resulting in optimal engine temperatures for quick starts. Each cylinder is equipped with a separate ignition coil. All of the internal combustion engines in the up! have bore / stroke dimensions of 74.5 / 76.4 mm. The compression ratio of the petrol engines is 10.5:1, while the natural gas version has a compression ratio of 11.5:1. Engine control is performed by a Bosch Motronic unit, type ME 17.5.20.
Aluminium crankcase
The three-cylinder engines of the up! each have an aluminium crankcase that is die-cast in "open deck" construction. To reduce weight here, most of the mounting points for ancillary components are located directly on the crankcase. This eliminates the need for an otherwise usual ancillary drive bracket. The grey cast iron cylinder liners enable reliable engine operation with all of the types of petrol available in the world.
Innovative crankshaft drive makes balancer shafts unnecessary
In laying out the crankshaft drive, engineers were able to reduce further moving mass compared to the company's other three-cylinder engines, thereby minimising friction in the system. The downward guided connecting rods and the pistons are weight-optimised to such an extent that the balancer shafts that are otherwise usual in three-cylinder engines could be eliminated - while maintaining the same comfort levels. Engine weight and drive friction - and therefore fuel consumption - were further reduced by the small main and connecting rod bearings. 6 crankshaft counterweights are used to reduce internal forces and therefore the load on the main bearing. These are design measures that give the up! motors the potential to be literal endurance runners.
Cylinder head with 3 x 4 valves
The cylinder head of the up! with four valves per cylinder is cast from an aluminium alloy. The valves suspended at the tops of the combustion chambers are laid out angles of 21 degrees (intake) and 22.4 degrees (exhaust), and as noted they are activated by cam followers. The valve stems have a diameter of 5 mm. The cylinder head has an integrated exhaust manifold, because, as mentioned previously, the engines reach their optimal operating temperature faster with this technical layout. The engine coolant is heated faster during the cold start phase, because the exhaust channels within the head merge at a central flange. In normal operation, on the other hand, the exhaust gas stream is cooled more intensively, and the engines can be operated at an optimal fuel-to-air ratio of λ=1. Once again, the results are reduced emission and fuel consumption values.
Acoustic comfort of a large car
The topic of weight reduction runs like a common thread throughout the engine area, all the way to the engine's swivel mounts: the solution implemented in the up! with its rubber-metal elements not only provides for very good isolation of the body from vibrations of the three-cylinder engine; it is also the lightest in the entire competitive field. Furthermore, it was already verified that weight-optimised insulating and damping concepts could be implemented in the up! in the initial concept phase. An example: in the concept, engineers provided sufficient installation space in the area of the engine bulkhead for the usual, relatively expensive firewall insulation, but it is not designed as the usual moulded part - instead as a more economical and very lightweight stamped part. Good sound insulation of the interior is enabled by special tuning of structural damping as it interacts with other acoustic elements. The up! development team also focused on systematic sealing of the body to minimise entry of undesirable noises into the passenger compartment, and this also minimised the need for sound-absorbing materials. In general, the new up! is characterised by a noticeably lower noise level than in many other vehicles in this class, because of its excellent insulation and acoustic damping.
1.0 MPI with 44 kW / 60 PS
From its 999 cm3 displacement, this entry-level engine develops a lively 44 kW / 60 PS at 5,500 rpm. Its maximum torque of 95 Nm is available between 3,000 and 5,000 rpm. 90 per cent of maximum torque is reached between 2,000 and 6,000 rpm. This results in good agility in nearly all engine rev ranges. In the base version with the 5-speed manual gearbox, a combined fuel consumption of 4.5 l/100 km is attained, which is equivalent to 105 g/km CO2. For the version with BlueMotion Technology, the values are 4.2 l/100 km and 97 g/km. In conjunction with the 35-litre fuel tank used in the up!, this yields a theoretical range of 833 km. The up! with 60 PS and a manual gearbox accelerates to 100 km/h in 14.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 160 km/h (161 km/h and 14.5 seconds as a BlueMotion Technology version).
1.0 MPI with 55 kW / 75 PS
The more powerful version of the 1.0-litre engine has the same displacement and same bore (74.5 mm) and stroke (76.4 mm) dimensions. The power gain is achieved by a modification to the engine controller. This results in a maximum power of 55 kW / 75 PS at 6,200 rpm. The maximum torque of 95 Nm is identical. With a manual gearbox, the 75-PS engine has a combined fuel consumption of 4.7 l/100 km (equivalent to 108 g/km CO2). The BlueMotion Technology version attains 4.3 l/100 km and 99 g/km CO2. The "large" up! with a manual gearbox has a top speed of 171 km/h and completes the sprint to 100 km/h in 13.2 seconds (174 km/h and 13.3 seconds as a BlueMotion Technology version).
1.0 EcoFuel with 50 kW / 68 PS
Volkswagen's EcoFuel badge has long stood for one of the cleanest and most fuel-efficient ways to drive a car - with natural gas. Until now, EcoFuel engines were reserved for the Touran, Passat and Caddy. Now, for the first time Volkswagen will be launching an EcoFuel version in a very small model - in the new up!. Here too, the company is using the newly developed 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine which in this case outputs 50 kW / 68 PS. Compared to pure petrol engines, this engine's compression ratio was increased from 10.5:1 to 11.5:1. The valves and valve seat rings were also reinforced to withstand the higher loads of natural gas combustion. In addition, the induction manifold has separate mounting points for the supplemental stainless steel gas distributor. Combined fuel consumption of the EcoFuel engine in conjunction with the BlueMotion Technology pack (including Stop/Start system and battery regeneration) that is standard here: 2.9 kg/100 km CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). This fuel consumption is equivalent to a CO2 value of 79 g/km. Fuel costs per 100 km are well below 3.00 euros (based on fuel price in Germany in August 2011)! It is hardly possible to drive a car more economically in Europe today.
Natural gas tanks in the underbody
These incredible values are enabled by the high energy content of the natural gas; one kg of CNG has the same energy content as about 1.5 litres of petrol. The natural gas is stored in 2 underfloor tanks (34.5 and 37.5 litre capacity) located near the rear axle. Tank 1 is located in front of the axle together with a 10-litre reserve petrol tank; tank 2 makes use of the spare wheel recess. The natural gas reservoir together with the petrol reserve tank - the EcoFuel engine has a "quasi monovalent" design and can also be operated with petrol - enable a range of over 550 km. Since the entire EcoFuel system was integrated in the vehicle structure, it does not impose any limitations on the car, except for the use of the spare wheel recess.
BlueMotion Technology - Stop/Start system
In the BlueMotion Technology versions, the up! is equipped with a Stop/Start system and a mode for recovering braking energy in battery regeneration. In addition, BlueMotion Technology models have an additional battery data module (to acquire momentary charge status), a heavy-duty starter, a DC/DC converter (guarantees voltage stability of the onboard electrical system) and a battery with excellent deep cycle performance. This is how the Stop/Start system works: the driver approaches a red light, slows to a stop, shifts to neutral and takes his or her foot off the clutch (with an automatic gearbox it is sufficient to press the brake pedal). This immediately shuts the engine off. The "Stop/Start" indicator now appears on the multi-function display. As soon as the traffic light turns green and the driver puts his foot on the clutch, the engine automatically starts, the "Stop/Start" indicator goes out, the driver puts the vehicle into gear and drives on. The Stop/Start system reduces fuel consumption by up to 6 per cent in city driving.
BlueMotion Technology - battery regeneration
Battery regeneration helps to utilise the energy expended in driving as efficiently as possible. During coasting and braking phases of the up! - i.e. whenever the driver releases the accelerator pedal or brakes - the system elevates the voltage of the alternator (generator), and this electricity is used to charge the vehicle's battery. Thanks to this alternator control as a function of engine efficiency and the fact that the battery is thus always optimally charged, the alternator's voltage can be reduced, e.g. during acceleration or when constantly maintaining a desired vehicle speed. It is even possible to shut off the alternator entirely. This reduces engine load, which in turn lowers fuel consumption. The optimally charged battery also supplies the onboard electrical system with sufficient energy whenever the engine is stopped (e.g. at a traffic light). Battery regeneration requires special software for the energy management system and modified engine controller software.
5 forward gears - manually
The new 5-speed gearboxes, which are made out of aluminium, were specially tuned to the three-cylinder petrol engines. The conventional manual gearbox version, referred to as the MQ100, weighs just 25 kg including transmission fluid, which makes it the world's lightest gearbox in this torque class (the gearbox also comes with indicators for the recommended gear and the engaged gear in the instrument cluster as standard). The gearbox is also built very compactly with a length of 341 mm and width of 462 mm.
5 forward gears - automatically
Also new is the automatic version of the gearbox. With a weight of less than 30 kg, the SQ100 is one of the lightest automatic gearboxes ever built. The automatic transmission offers "D", "N" and "R" selections; as an alternative, the driver can switch over to manual shifting mode at any time. In the automatic "D" mode, the gearbox selects the optimal fuel economy shift point and forward gear, which reduces fuel consumption even more compared to the manual version. An interesting fact found by gearbox developers is that during driving, twice as many shifting operations occur with the automatic version as with the manual gearbox. The automatic gearbox also exhibits a few differences in car operation compared to a conventional automatic with torque converter lockup clutch: this very efficient automatic transmission does without the park stage "P". This means that the up! is not started in "P" (as is usual in other cars), rather in "N" (neutral). The advantage here is that because the car is parked in "N", the driver does not need to shift to "P" first to start the engine.
5th gear as economy overdrive gear
Both gearboxes are designed for a maximum input torque of 120 Nm. The manual and automatic versions also both have a fifth gear with a long gear ratio. This economy gear reduces engine revs at higher vehicle speeds, lowering acoustic and exhaust emissions and of course reducing fuel consumption. The SQ100 is offered in conjunction with the 2 petrol engines of the up!.
Agile and safe running gear
Since the introductions of the first Polo, Golf and Passat, Volkswagen has been relying on front-wheel drive technology. Since that time nearly 4 decades have passed, during which the principle of the Volkswagen front-wheel drive system was continually perfected. By the time the electronic stabilisation programme was introduced, the alliance of front-wheel drive and ESP revolutionised active safety. The new up! cars are also offered with ESP as standard in countries like Germany. The system is integrated in the network of a MacPherson strut-type front suspension and a semi-independent rear suspension. The goal of this layout was to realise a very neutral, highly safe and comfortable chassis without losing sight of the special cost sensitivity of a small car.
Compact and lightweight suspensions
The driven front axle of the up! is, as mentioned, designed as a system with MacPherson-type struts and wishbones. A central component here is a subframe to which the single-shell transverse link is joined and which absorbs forces of the stabiliser that is joined directly to the strut tower, as well as the steering unit and the swivel mount of the engine bearing. The lightweight but very rigid subframe is produced from a high-strength steel that is only 1.8 mm thick. The semi-independent rear suspension also exhibits low weight and very compact construction. The up! will be available with an optional sport chassis as well; in this case, the body of the Volkswagen - equipped with stiffer spring-damper tuning - rides 15 mm lower to the road.
Economical power steering
All versions of the up! are equipped with electro-mechanical power assisted steering as standard. Volkswagen is also implementing steering systems of this type in numerous other models. Its main advantage: electro-mechanical power steering only operates when there is demand, i.e. only when it is needed. And this saves up to 0.2 l/100 km of fuel. Another advantage is the system's programmability; for example, it is possible to tune the steering for more sporty and direct responsiveness or for more comfortable steering. In the case of the up!, the parameters are the selected degree of active self-centring to the middle position and the steering comfort as well as a feeling of safety. The important self-centring characteristic, even over the slightest of steering angles, and speed-dependent build-up of steering torque convey a sense of very high precision to the driver. From lock to lock, there are exactly 2.9 steering wheel turns in the up!.
Sturdy brake system
At the front, the up! is decelerated with completely newly developed, ventilated 14-inch disc brakes. Compared to the brake discs of this size used by the company to date, Volkswagen was able to reduce their weight (per vehicle) by 1.5 kg; this too saves fuel. The reduction in unsprung mass has a positive effect on driving comfort as well. At the rear, Volkswagen is implementing a drum brake derived from the Polo, which ideally fits the power range and weight of the up!. A 9-inch brake servo unit optimises braking power. An innovative aspect of the system is that the power range of the brakes is subdivided into 2 maps. In the comfort braking range, the focus is on good force metering ability. Meanwhile, if more powerful braking is required, the second map is activated with a higher servo boost factor. This significantly reduces the "foot force" required during hard braking, and in the end this improves safety. In markets like Germany, the new up! will also be equipped with the ESP electronic stabilisation programme as standard equipment. Also included in the vehicle is an ABS anti-lock braking system.
City Emergency Braking
A safety technology highlight of the up! is the optional City Emergency Braking function. It is automatically active at speeds below 30 km/h; it uses a laser sensor (integrated in the upper area of the windscreen) to scan a space 10 metres in front of the up! and detect the risk of an imminent collision. If such a collision with a moving or stationary object is imminent without any reaction by the driver, then the brake system is pre-conditioned, and in a second stage the hydraulic brake assistant is switched to a more sensitive mode. Depending on the situation, City Emergency Braking might then initiate, as a third stage, automatic hard braking to a stop, or alternatively support the driver with full braking power if the driver is braking insufficiently. When maximum risk of collision exists, the up! is braked with a deceleration of 10 m/s2. Depending on the vehicle's speed and the driving situation, City Emergency Braking can reduce accident severity by automatic brake interventions - and possibly even avoid a crash. Nonetheless, the driver still assumes responsibility for the braking process.
Driver always has full access to the system

If it is deemed necessary, the driver can deactivate the intervention by City Emergency Braking at any time by pressing the accelerator pedal, steering or activating the clutch pedal. In addition, City Emergency Braking can be shut off entirely by pressing a button in the lower part of the centre console (e.g. for towing or on a dynamometer test stand). In this case, a related symbol appears in the instrument cluster with the text "OFF" for 5 seconds to indicate the deactivation; in addition, the indication appears whenever the relevant vehicle speed range of 5 to 30 km/h is reached. If City Emergency Braking is defective, the symbol flashes slowly and continually. When City Emergency Braking is triggered, the symbol intermittently flashes briefly and at a quick interval. So far, the up! is the only vehicle in the segment that can be equipped with an emergency braking function for city driving.
Multi-functional system maps+more
Completely new aboard a Volkswagen is the maps+more system, a portable multi-functional infotainment system. It includes a navigation system, a hands-free telephone unit, displays of factual information related to the vehicle and a media player. In addition, apps can be used to tailor maps+more to a driver's highly individualised requirements profile. maps+more is snapped into a very high-end and sturdy bracket above the centre console, which interfaces it with the electronics network of the up!. maps+more offers the most systematic form of integration of portable devices being launched on the market today.
Affordable information
maps+more takes a comprehensive approach to offering infotainment for new cars at affordable prices. That is why, in the economically priced up!, a system was developed for organising the areas of navigation, telephone, information and entertainment at a competitive cost. In addition, this system was designed so that it could be brought up to the latest software levels by a simple update. In cooperation with Navigon, one of the world's leading suppliers of portable navigation systems, a special solution was tailored to the up! which is affordable for all buyers - maps+more.
maps+more in detail
In the debut market of the up! - in Germany - maps+more will cost 355 euros. In this case, the RCD 215 radio-CD system must also be ordered, and the radio can also be controlled via maps+more. Why are these two units coupled? Because playback of MP3 songs or the voice output of the navigation system or telephone conversations only operate properly if their output is via the radio system and the car's loudspeakers. The radio module with its 2 loudspeakers also costs 355 euros; for an added price of just 120 euros, the loudspeaker configuration can be extended from 2 to 6. So, in the maximum configuration costing 830 euros, the buyer gets a complete radio-navigation system with voice control, CD/MP3 player, SD card interface (32 Gigabytes) for playing back music and images, hands-free telephone unit, multifunctional trip computer with fuel-saving trainer and other applications whose broad assortment is hardly matched by any other system on the market. The system's basic functions are organised under 4 main menus: "Vehicle", "Navigation", "Media" and "Telephone". Each of these 4 menus is activated from the 5-inch colour touchscreen.
"Vehicle" menu
This menu is used to display information on the up! and helpful apps. This includes...

• Information from the "trip computer" (driving range, fuel consumption, average fuel consumption, vehicle speed, driving time and distance) with digitally generated analogue gauges for the tachometer, engine temperature and outdoor temperature;


• "Door monitoring" (a visual representation of open doors, if the up! is equipped with central locking);


• "Visual reversing assist" (a supplementary visual display of the optional acoustic-based ParkPilot function);


• The "Notepad" function (input of signature via touchscreen), which can be installed from the Navigon Fresh portal;


• The flashlight/light function "Highbeam" (the headlights of an up! light up in the display), which is also installed via Navigon Fresh;


• The "ThinkBlue. Trainer".

"ThinkBlue. Trainer" assists in sustainability
This trainer helps to save fuel and makes it easier to realise an eco-friendly and anticipatory style of driving. It monitors and analyses the use of the accelerator pedal, brakes and gear shifting, and it gives tips to drivers on how they might modify their style of driving to reduce fuel consumption.
In the start menu of the "Think Blue. Trainer", the three functions "Driving", "Fuel consumption" and "Shifting" are displayed as circular symbols. These 3 symbols let the driver know, very quickly, just how eco-friendly the car trip is going. The "Driving" symbol, for example, with its integrated silhouette of the up! inside a circle, indicates by the size of the circle how fuel-efficient the driver's driving style has been so far during the drive - the larger the circle, the less fuel-efficient the driving style over the driven time period. The "Fuel consumption" symbol shows the average fuel consumption value since the beginning of the current driving trip. When the driver touches one of the three symbols on the screen, the related submenu is opened which shows further specific information. Under the "Driving" menu, tips on driving behaviour are shown; this information can be used straight away to drive in a more eco-friendly way. The submenu under "Shifting" provides detailed information on the ideal shift time points and how ideally shift recommendations were implemented over recent minutes. When the "Fuel consumption" submenu is called, a graphic display shows fuel consumption values over the past 30 minutes.
Last but not least, maps+more thinks with the driver and - when the navigation system or map display is active - it can automatically seek out the next fuel refilling station at a specific fuel reserve level; this function is called "Low fuel warning".
"Navigation" menu
Clearly, what lies behind this menu category is a classic navigation system with voice control and TMC. But what is meant by "clearly" here? Because maps+more clearly offers much more in this area.

• There is the "My vehicle" menu item, for example. When parking the car (ignition off), the system automatically saves the position of the parked up!. On the way back to the vehicle, maps+more, now operating as a mobile navigation system, finds the way back to the parking location. This can be really helpful in unfamiliar cities.


• Of course, maps+more can also locate car parks.


• Those using the up! as a business car will also enjoy the "Trip log" function.


• In addition, addresses and routes can be imported via Outlook, and different route profiles may be selected.


• Those who wish to can display their own motifs as a maps+more screensaver; in this case, the screen also shows the date, time and outdoor temperature.


• The system can also accept about 500 navigation destinations as personal favourites (POI = Points of Interest) and show map details in 3D.


• maps+more can also point out about 2 million POIs or attractions.


• The "Call for help" command can be used (in this case, the display always shows the car's current position) to have maps+more place a call for emergency services at the nearest control centre.

"Media" menu
The combination of maps+more and the RCD 215 offers these options for playing music over the loudspeakers of the up!: the radio, a micro-SD card reader (for cards up to 32 Gigabyte) or the CD/MP3 player of the RCD 215. Photos and videos can also be displayed from an SD card. Those using an iPod or iPhone can also play back music over the system (streaming) via Bluetooth.

• In its visual display of individual media functions, maps+more enables a number of new options for the automotive field. For example, the radio broadcasting station can be shown conventionally as a name in text format, or it can be shown by the station's logo (the latest station listing can be downloaded at any time via Navigon Fresh).


• Just as on many MP3 players, it is also possible to display the album cover of the MP3 songs currently being played from the SD card.


• Photos can be presented as a slideshow via maps+more.


• Last but not least, radio and sound settings can be adjusted quickly and intuitively from the touchscreen under the "Media" menu.

"Telephone" menu
When used with suitable Bluetooth telephones, maps+more offers a range of functions equivalent to that of a hands-free telephone unit. After interfacing to the telephone, the touchscreen displays a keyboard, the entire telephone book of the interfaced telephone and a directory of recent calls. Moreover, the telephone can be operated by voice control.
Other apps for maps+more
up! drivers can download additional apps for maps+more via the maps+more download portal. Extended functionalities are available free of charge. They include a First Aid app, a licence plate catalogue and a technical encyclopaedia. In addition, other apps are available from Navigon. Applications that can be downloaded include various travel guides, a 3D City View and a directory of natural gas refilling stations. For a low fee, up! drivers can also obtain an update of map materials for all of Europe (price in Germany: 19.99 euros for 24 months).

Source : Netcarshow.com

Volkswagen Beetle Fender Concept

2011 FRANKFURT AUTO SHOW
For those who are not fans of music, or maybe you're really pressed metal beetle concept shown at Frankfurt Motor Showmay at first sound like a tribute to a specific body panel. This is not true. It is a tribute to the guitars, especially those made by Fender. This is an extension of a partnership that has seen small insignia placed on Fender sound equipment in several current VW. It is also great.

The exterior is low profile, retro-sized exhaust pipes protruding from beneath the bumper, and small horns herald red window trim, a lower and wider stance, and subtle Fender logo. The interior is what makes this car special show, however.

The cabin is filled with genuine wood trim finished in Sunburst Fender signature, and there is a tube amp on top of the board. The envelope of plastic radio has been replaced by colored mesh as you would find in an old amplifier (with an iPhone dock in the center), and HVAC controls have been metallized to remember the controls of the guitar and amplifier. A shot of one quarter inch and tone settings are located in the hatch, which lets you connect a guitar and play through the subwoofer.

If that last bit sounds familiar, half in Volkswagen gave that idea a few years ago, when he surrendered First Act guitars with some cars. The instruments on board came with a pre-amplifier, and worked when plugged into auxiliary port, basically, as the car of an iPod. But where was a gimmicky stunt designed to move a little bit of metal, this beetle Fender is presented as a genuine tribute to the music and guitars. Do not go overboard with the association to avoid caricature selection holder near the gear lever treads dangerously close to the line, but we'll let it go.

Although the Beetle Fender has not been confirmed for production, they said they would be relatively easy to produce after releasing a couple of things. As tired as special editions can be sometimes, this is a digging, even if you miss the sweet tube amp.

Source : Carandriver.com

Autoneus.com

Cars Volkswagen Beetle

Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 3-door hatchbackBASE PRICES: Beetle, $19,765; Beetle Turbo, $24,165

ENGINE TYPES: DOHC 20-valve 2.5-liter inline-5, 170 hp, 177 lb-ft; turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter inline-4, 200 hp, 207 lb-ft
TRANSMISSIONS: 5- or 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic, 6-speed dual-clutch automatic with manual shifting mode
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 99.9 in Length: 168.4 in
Width: 71.2 in Height: 58.5 in
Curb weight (C/D est): 3050–3150 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 6.3–7.5 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.9–15.8 sec
Top speed: 118–130 mph

FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST):
EPA city/highway driving: 22–24/29–31 mpg

Throughout its 73-year history, the VW Beetle has embodied VW’s “people’s car” philosophy, the original Type 1 becoming more than 21 million people’s car before production finally ceased in Mexico in 2003. It was only during the 12-year term of the New Beetle—introduced in 1998 and discontinued after the final 2010 models—that those people became, by and large, female. In its peak year, the Beetle sold more than 80,000 copies in the U.S., roughly 75 percent of them to women, based on our observation. (The other 25 percent going to very effeminate, very confident, or completely oblivious men.) If VW is to make its goal of moving 800,000 cars in the U.S. by 2018, even a percentage of the 83,434 Beetles sold here in 1999 would be a helpful number to add back into the sales charts.
Thankfully, in designing this generation of Beetle, VW started with the right priority: Reshape the car so that it will appeal to more than just people who can get away with wearing skirts in public (Scots excluded). Gone is the syrupy-cute, large-bubble-eating-a-smaller-bubble look, replaced by a design with a flatter, lower roof, a flatter, longer hood, and tauter sheetmetal that looks like someone popped a pressure-relief valve and bled off a couple dozen psi.







The result is larger than its predecessor—7.3 inches longer, with 1.1 more inches between the wheels, and 3.3 inches wider—and spectacularly retro. It is far more faithful to the original than the last Beetle, right down to the wheel designs and delightful ’70s brown paint. VW seems unlikely to follow our suggestion to call this shade “dung,” therefore denying buyers the option of buying a dung Beetle. However, in homage to the numerous entomological nicknames the vehicle has acquired around the world—Käfer, Coccinelle, Maggiolino, to name a few—VW will offer a variety of the monikers as optional replacements for the standard “Beetle” script on the hatch.
That Was it for the Poop Jokes
There are important practical implications for the new shape in addition to the obvious aesthetic ones. While no longer boasting a top-hat-friendly front row ready for Abe Lincoln and Mr. Peanut’s Sunday drive, the Beetle’s interior still offers a spacious front seat. Even in a car with a sunroof—his mortal enemy—this six-foot, seven-inch scribe fits comfortably behind the wheel. The standard telescoping column’s generous reach is a tremendous aid. The Beetle’s sunroof is huge, but the hole it creates when open is small. Early in their ownership, we expect that many drivers will fiddle with its switch, thinking the roof should open farther. It does, however, slide back far enough to get in the way when the rear hatch is opened, which is why it automatically slides forward three inches when the rear portal’s latch releases.







Assuming all are average size, a quartet of adults can comfortably ride in the Beetle—although those much loftier than average height will find their foreheads locked into a cutout in the trailing edge of the headliner. While it does allow for taller riders, it somewhat uncomfortably forces an upright posture lest you constantly rub your forehead on cloth. On the other hand, the cutout is convenient for sweltering summertime rides when you want to wipe your brow on your friend’s headliner. And the simple manual folding operation of the front seats quickly opens a large passage to the rear, while 15 cubic feet of flower vases will fit beneath the rear hatch. (Capacity swells to 30 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.) Buyers wanting a vase in their Beetle will need a solution similar to this, as there is no longer one mounted on the dash. Good.
Soap Bars and German Cars
Structurally, if you think of the Beetle as a Jetta that has graduated from Soap Bars Anonymous, you won’t be far off. It shares much of that car’s platform, including the U.S.-market version’s torsion-beam rear suspension, although Beetles powered by the optional turbo four use a multilink rear setup like that on the recently announced Jetta GLI. On this early drive, the turbo was the only car available to us. The base engine is VW’s unique 2.5-liter inline-five; both it and the four have the same output in the Beetle as they do in its boxier brethren. The five chalks up 170 hp and 177 lb-ft, while the four squeezes out 200 and 207. Transmission choices with the five are a five-speed manual and a six-speed automatic, while the turbo gets a six-speed manual or six-speed DSG. A Beetle TDI, with VW’s 140-hp, 236-lb-ft turbo-diesel, will arrive next summer, as will a Beetle convertible. The Beetle R, with a higher-output turbo four making at least 240 hp, will bow sometime later.
Despite being such a familiar engine, the turbo four-cylinder sounds very different in the Beetle than in other Volkswagens, almost five-cylinder-esque. Its familiar surge of power, though, is just as addicting here as in the GTI. Although we appreciate the DSG transmission’s immediate upshifts and rev-matched downshifts, its takeup at part throttle is still frustratingly slow, making for some unnecessarily anxious moments when darting into traffic. It is very eager to upshift in urban commuting, although the seamless shifts mean the driver notices the change in engine note far more than he feels the gear swap.
The base car comes with 17-inch wheels and can be fitted with 18s, while the Turbo includes 18s and offers 19s. The 18-inchers feel about as big as we’d want on this car, with larger impacts bordering on harsh. But the ride is otherwise smooth, with restrained body motions. All Beetles have a strut front suspension with an anti-roll bar, but the Turbo’s bar is 1 mm larger, at 23 mm. In addition, it gets an 18-mm rear anti-roll bar and an optional sportier tune; the base car does without either of these. Regardless, the Beetle is a resolute understeerer. The XDS brake-based “limited-slip” differential is standard on turbo cars.







The steering weight won’t alienate even the frailest of New Beetle customers, but still requires a touch of effort to operate. It rises predictably with speed, and offers enough feedback to satisfy those trading in their GTIs without scaring off old New Beetle buyers. Like the Jetta, the Beetle feels a bit less substantial than other VW products. It’s not terribly flimsy, just a slightly less-solid feel than we’re accustomed to. (Inside, fortunately, the Beetle betrays none of the cost-cutting so evident in the Jetta.) At German-appropriate speeds on the Autobahn, we noted a very German-inappropriate nervousness above 100 mph or so. This will matter to very few buyers in the U.S.
Beetle Hierarchy
What will matter to buyers here is the Beetle’s value. The very cheapest Beetle starts at $19,765 and includes the 170-horse inline-five, the five-speed stick, disc brakes all around, one-touch power windows, cruise control, very attractive cloth seats that fold 50/50 in the rear, and an eight-speaker stereo with an auxiliary input. If you want an automatic, you’ll have to step up to the Beetle 2.5 trim, which starts at $21,665, or $20,565 with the manual. In addition to unlocking the automatic, the 2.5 adds leatherette seats—heated up front—Bluetooth, and a USB input. For $23,065 ($24,165 with an automatic), the Beetle with sunroof adds a glass-covered hole in the roof, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, keyless entry and starting, and a touch-screen radio. The priciest among the lower-powered Beetles adds 18-inch wheels, nav, and a Fender-branded audio system for $24,865 ($25,965 with the auto).
Equipment groupings for the Beetle Turbo vary only slightly, with the basic Turbo starting at $24,165 and including 18-inch wheels, fog lights, gloss-black mirror housings, a rear spoiler, supportive sport seats with unique upholstery, and a leather-wrapped shift knob and handbrake lever, and aluminum pedals. (The DSG transmission adds $1100 to the price of any Turbo.) For another $3000, you’ll get the sunroof, audio controls and leather on the steering wheel, keyless entry and starting, the touch-screen radio, and the Fender audio. If you want to spend premium-German-brand money on your people’s car, the top-of-the-line car demands $28,765 to add nav and leather seats, as well as dash and door trim wrapped in dead cowskin.

If you think of the Beetle as a recovered soap bar, the treatment was pretty cheap, with prices outpacing similarly equipped versions of VW’s less-stylish hatchback, the Golf and GTI, by about a grand. That seems reasonable to us for a car with scads more panache and a relatively minor drop in practicality. Best of all, the shape doesn’t appeal exclusively to women anymore.
Source : Caranddriver.com

Volkswagen Eos Lux Review – Cabriolet reborn

Pros:

• Surprisingly fast acceleration


• Revised styling is more sophisticated


• Refined interior & build quality

Cons:

• Proportions are a bit awkward with the top up


• Automatic hardtop takes patience


• Small trunk space

The last time I even thought about a VW convertible was in high school drooling over the hot blonde cheerleader with a white ’87 Rabbit-based Cabriolet with a matching canvas top. So when my editor called about the Eos I was conflicted. It brought back some fun high school memories but I also had to decide whether I was man enough to drive a chick car. I’m glad I said yes. The Eos represents the top end of the VW convertible line-up, capping the range that will start with the new Beetle soft top and the upcoming Euro-only(for now) 2012 Golf Cabrio soft top. The new VW Eos Lux was fun to drive with the top up or down. Usually the mid-cycle model refresh is focused mostly on the innards with just minor exterior updates, but the 2012 VW Eos received a fairly significant face-lift, and it is all the better for it. Gone are the roundish headlights with the vertically-stretched chrome grille with matching round taillights, and in are the new VW corporate looks both on the front and back. The new design is more sophisticated and less cutesy than the original Eos. The 2.0 turbo four carries over mated to a 6-speed automatic with Tiptronic and Sport mode.


Driving Impressions
Frankly I was not ecstatic about driving the Eos. Playing with the folding hardtop, yes, but driving the FWD 4-banger was not that enticing to me. But I was pleasantly surprised. Drop the gearshift into Sport mode and floor the accelerator, and you’ll be redlining in no time and peeling out. Yes, I was actually burning rubber off the line in this subcompact FWD four-cylinder Eos.
The turbo helps with the boost but the 207 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1,800-5,000 RPM makes driving this Eos quite fun. The 200 HP comes at 5,100 RPM and passing cars on the freeway was a breeze. For its size, the Eos is pretty heavy thanks to its 5-piece folding hard top, and 0-60 is pegged at 7.3 seconds. But it feels faster than that. Torque steer is a typical problem with high-power FWD cars, but it’s not too noticeable in the Eos. Guess it doesn’t exactly qualify as “high-power.” But hey, you don’t buy the Eos for the performance. There are plenty of other performance drop tops like the Nissan 370Z or the BMW Z4.

Driving the Eos with the hardtop folded down was fun. Yes, it messes up your hair and no, the rear passengers get a lot of wind in their faces but it’s not that common these days to be able to share a convertible driving experience with 3 other passengers. I was actually able to fit a child seat in the back (after half an hour and lots of curse words) and took my toddler for a ride. He didn’t enjoy it as much as I did (too much wind) but I cant do that in a Z4. The Eos also has a unique sunroof option that is very wide and you can tilt it or open it just like in a hardtop car.


Styling
The 2012 Eos is a significant improvement over the first generation car in terms of exterior appearance. As I mentioned in the intro, the frontend is much more sophisticated looking with the new wide VW corporate grille and Golf-like headlight units. The original rounded headlights with the chrome face grille always disturbed me somewhat. Too cute. The squared-off taillights are also much more expensive-looking than the previous round units. Other than that, the overall proportions and shape of the Eos remain the same.
The lack of the B pillar is great for visibility and gives the Eos a clean profile with the top up. I wish the proportions were better worked out, however, as the Eos seems a bit too short especially with the fast sloping rear window that looks like it’s pushing the entire greenhouse forward. The FWD architecture means a long overhang with the front axle sitting well aft of the engine. The Volvo C70 hardtop convertible also has a long overhang but the longer length and wheelbase of the Volvo give the C70 much better proportions with the top up. The Eos is definitely more attractive with the top down.

Interior Comfort and Ergonomics
The interior of the 2012 Eos is refined and the quality of the materials is what one can expect from a $39k car. There is leather over most surfaces the driver touches with metallic-appearance accents in all the right places. The Lux and Executive trims also come with burled walnut trim on the dashboard, doors and center console. I don’t even know what burled means but it sounds expensive. 12-way adjustable front seats with 4-way lumbar support are also available in the Lux and Executive trims.
The steering-wheel mounted controls are not too overwhelming and allow the driver to mess with a decent amount of phone, voice-control, cruise control, menu options, and the nav/audio touch screen unit on the center console is intuitive and easy to reach. The new VW interior feels rich but not decadent, if that makes any sense. With the folding hardtop up the interior is fairly quiet, you can hardly tell that this car is a convertible. The fit of the roof is impeccable. Visibility out of the sides is fantastic thanks to the missing B pillars.

Value
The base trim Eos Komfort starts at just under $34k, and the top-of-the-range Executive trim starts at just over $39k. The nicely-appointed tester was a mid level Lux trim and MSRPs at a tad over $38k with destination. Its closest competitors are probably the Saab 9-3 convertible and the aforementioned Volvo C70 folding hardtop convertible, both of which are more expensive. The Eos has the lowest starting price of the three and is very competitive even at the Executive trim level. The Volvo C70 has a turbocharged 5 cylinder that produces 27 more horses, but starts out at $39k. The Saab 9-3 also has a 4-cylinder 2.0 liter turbo but is a tad bit slower than the Eos and it starts at just under $40k for the manual and over $41k or the automatic. And it only has a folding soft top.
Drop-Top Cars are Fun
The 2012 Volkswagen Eos is a great little 4-seater convertible. The folding hardtop is fun to watch and reminds me of Transformers. Its unique sunroof that opens up makes this an enjoyable car even when it’s not that warm out. I even had fun driving this FWD with a 2.0 4 cylinder. On top of that it’s a great deal when compared against the Volvo and the Saab. So what if the proportions are a bit awkward with the top up, you wouldn’t see that since you’re having fun cruising down the boulevard. And with the top down, you’d be too busy smiling with the wind in your hair. This VW Eos is a vast improvement over that white Cabriolet the cheerleader drove in high school, but boy do I miss watching her drive by with her other cheerleader friends standing in the back seat holding onto that signature basket handle rollover bar.

	BUILD	INTERIOR	PERFORMANCE	HANDLING	STYLING	VALUE	OVERALL
RATING	4.5	4.5	4.0	4.0	3.5	3.5	4.0/B

Source : Carrivew.com