Want a VW Up? You might have to buy a VW Lupo in 2011 instead
According to some educated guessing at WorldCarFans, Volkswagen's Up! concept that is coming our way in the next few years will be renamed the Lupo, reviving a name that went out of production in 2005. WCF says they have official confirmation from sources that their guess is true, and that "Up!" will indeed form the middle of the Lupo name (see also: IROC and Scirocco). There's still time before we find out for sure, as the production Up!/Lupo isn't expected to be unveiled until the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011.
Gallery: Volkswagen up! concept
Gallery: Tokyo 2007: Volkswagen Space up!
[Source: WorldCarFans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
eddy 4:56PM (2/27/2008)
Thats the name trick VW uses for all off it's concepts:
The VW IROC became the VW ScIROCco
The VW UP becomes the VE LUPo
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eddy 5:01PM (2/27/2008)
Sorry I didn't read that you mentioned their concept naming scheme.
Although I remember that the Volkswagen guy at their IAA exhibit said the Lupo would launch in second quarter of 2010. Was there a delay in the timeplan or something since then.
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Carlos Ferreira 7:00PM (2/27/2008)
We need this car. It's so simple, it almost hurts - for example, there's the possibility the basic versions won't have power steering, saving weight and, therefore, fuel consumption. This is great news - you can actually build good, simple and green cars like this baby or the Citroen Cactus (even smarter, probably), based on simple ideas, without getting really bad cars - like the Tata Nano. Sure, this will be more expensive, but it won't be a crap.
Glad to see VW back for it. They were supposed to be the original smart car makers, in a project by (!) swatch. Yes, the clock maker. Than they jumped off, Mercedes jumped in, swatch didn't take the heat and jumped off as well and, 10 years of smart later, it's yet to make a profit. VW can probably pull this one off, though, by selling and marketing it as a VW, on their dealers.
Good news, cute car. I want one!
Carlos Ferreira
http:/www.greencarvalue.blogspot.com
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rgseidl 7:09PM (2/27/2008)
VW has long named models in its smallest car family after animals: Beetle, Fox, Lupo (= Latin for wolf). Reviving the Lupo badge would be a little risky given that the original was a fuel-efficient but expensive car that sold poorly. Perhaps VW is betting most customers have never even heard of it.
Using the middle letters for concept cars is a new parlor game in Wolfsburg, one I suspect will end once they decide to revamp the Passat.
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Sebastian 8:53PM (2/27/2008)
OK, rgseidl wins for having the funniest comment in a long time.
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smog 9:24AM (2/28/2008)
I will give a f..k about the lupo unless they bring the Lupo 3L to Canada. yes, 3L as in 3L/100km or 100mpg
http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/printer_319.shtml
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Bancho 12:17PM (2/28/2008)
"I will give a f..k about the lupo unless they bring the Lupo 3L to Canada. yes, 3L as in 3L/100km or 100mpg"
Do you mean you will *not* give a f..k about the lupo unless they bring the Lupo 3L to Canada. yes, 3L as in 3L/100km or 100mpg?
BTW, 3L/100km isn't 100mpg, it's more like approximately 78mpg, which, while still very good, is not = 100mpg by a long shot.
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tlc 11:17PM (2/29/2008)
So I suppose the next concept "ET" will be the next generation BeETle. That should fit well inline with "reverse engineered from UFOs"
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-nm 1:36PM (3/06/2008)
Space LUp!o anyone?
Crude just hit $105/bbl. I don't care what it's called; just get it into production and get it here now.
I'm getting 33-35 mpg (US) with my current small car, which is not ass-engined and rear wheel drive and thereby much less awesome than any of the NSF variants shown so far. I'd settle for less than 3l/100km. Although, I bet the TDI hybrid powertrain shown in the new golf concept would package nicely in the Up...
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Chris_Franks 9:14AM (3/18/2008)
I have owned a 3L since March 2002 and now have 160,000km on the clock. The price of diesel in UK is now £1.15/l so I'm happy to be driving a car capable of 94 MPG(UK). My 3L was a personal import from Belgium, it is LHD but this does not present me with much of a problem as my previous car was a diesel Smart, also imported, so LHD too. The advantages of the Lupo over the Smart for me are: 4/5 seats, better ride, better fuel economy, good safety and some boot space.
It is possible to seat 4 adults reasonably comfortably in the 3L but on longer runs 2 people are better. The boot space is not enormous but has plenty of room for my dog.
I had a few problems with my 3L during the first year including a new engine, turbo and cat in the 1st 500km caused by a blown turbo seal. Later that year I had a new hydraulic power unit fitted but since then have had no problems.
The gearbox can be annoying as it's a bit slow changing at times but I have a very relaxed driving style so can cope with it. The car will cruise on the motorway at 130km/h and still return reasonable fuel economy.
The heating and ventilation are quite good with electric cabin heating to suppliment the normal system. Fuel ecomony has been achieved by not fitting power steering, air con etc and weight reduced by using aluminium, plastics and other light materials in place of steel.
For me the car is fine as I normally drive alone or with one passenger at most. The 3L has been out of production since 05 however the Blue motion Polo is now available in UK spec.
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Carlos Gonçalves 9:15AM (5/18/2008)
VW lupo 3l tdi is one of VW I own and drive daily. This car does me in a daily base 2,7L / 100Km at 80km/h medium speed. This consumption goes to 2,8 l /100Km with very cold days.
I know that it is hard to believe but it has been a daily truth since July 2005. I will send photos of consumption measurements of the car computer to anybody who wants to see…
The production of VW lupo has been discontinued since than (I bought the last one that was available in Portugal). From what I heard, the model was a flop to VW; it was to expensive for a small car (four seats)
With daily rising prices of petrol, I pray for a long life of my car.
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Volker 5:40AM (9/18/2008)
VW Lupo rocks!
Show me any car in the US that can do 78 miles per gallon!
Not even the half, 39 miles per Gallon is available there!
The US is 20 years behind the Europeans! Wake up!
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