FWD VW up! delayed five months
We've heard rumors that Volkswagen would be going against the concept up!'s rear-engine and rear-wheel drive architecture, and it now appears that those earlier rumblings are indeed true. That's a big knock against the retro-theme that attracted many to the concept in the first place. After all, countless numbers of individuals were first introduced to the VW brand via the iconic Beetle, which, of course, had it's engine hanging off the rear and driving those wheels. VW CEO Martin Winterkorn says, "Our engineers favored a rear engine and fought until the end for that solution." Those dang accountants ruined the fun again.
A front-wheel drive architecture will undoubtedly lower the cost of the vehicle's development as it will allow for a much larger use of already-designed parts and will surely let VW use architecture from its Lupo small car. Still, that platform-sharing doesn't seem to be speeding up the development too much as it is now five full months behind schedule.
Hatchback, minivan and sedan versions of the platform are expected to begin sales in Europe in 2011, a full two years after rivals such as the Fiat Topolino and Toyota's iQ model are to go on sale. We have hopes that the up! will make it stateside, though the new FWD format surely makes them considerably less compelling to many eyes, ours included.
Gallery: Volkswagen up! concept
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike Lee 6:34PM (7/21/2008)
Well, that's stupid if potential buyers are put-off by the car as FWD rather than rear-engine, RWD. So what if people were weaned on VWs thanks to the classic Beetle? They have the new Beetle is that's what they want. This new car needs to be FWD for practicalities sake, packagings sake, and winter drivings sake. I'll take mine in FWD anyday!
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James Bowe 8:59AM (7/22/2008)
Agreed. Why would anyone want RWD on a small car? Unless it's a sports coupe, which is clearly not the case, then you gain nothing. And even worse, a lightweight RWD car is essentially un-drivable in the snow. Sounds like the accountants need to take the engineers to school over there...
woodenbee 3:10PM (7/22/2008)
I've driven a beetle in the snow and its outstanding, let me educate you all, with the engine and transmission weight over the wheels it doesn't matter which end of the car its at the car will grip well in soft snow, so please don't disrespect the old beetle it was a great design and is perfectly valid today. If you want to talk about stupid configurations look at rear wheel drive V8 trucks and cars, WOW !! Its always fun to go and see those dummies try and drive in snow!
Nick 10:31PM (7/21/2008)
FWD or RWD, get off the couch and make it NOW !
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Nikax 8:30PM (7/21/2008)
what was so great about rear engine / rwd cars? I owned VW beetles and buses, and my gosh, were those things unstable, the high center of gravity combined with massive unpredictable oversteer made for, um, interesting experiences. Yes, a skilled driver can exploit oversteer to great effect, but for the average driver oversteer is A Really Bad Thing.
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Rick 11:52AM (7/22/2008)
Sorry, the RWD vs FWD does not affect anything in my eyes. It's price, materials, drivabilty, efficiency, reliability and design that matter to me, I could care less where the engine is.
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Noz 12:47AM (7/24/2008)
Geez....a VW delayed....say it ain't so!
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