VW considers moving on Up! in U.S.
Click above for a high-res gallery of the VW up!
Speaking at the New York Auto Show, Volkswagen head Stefan Jacoby has said that the German automaker would consider launching the Up! microcar in the United States market. Says Jacoby, "Up! could be in the future of the market here. In urban areas like New York, a car like Up! has a good chance."
As it currently stands, VW plans to have the urban runabout ready for 2012, though it's not yet certain what countries will get first crack at the diminutive machine. We're also not entirely sure what kind of powertrain the Up! will be launched with or if it will be powered by gas, diesel, electricity or a combination thereof.
In related news, Jacoby suggested that Volkswagen would be in favor of a U.S. car scrapping scheme. "Such incentives could be modeled after the successful German scrapping program that provides vouchers for the purchase of new cars," he said. We'll see.
Gallery: Volkswagen up! concept
[Source: Reuters]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Noz 12:40PM (4/09/2009)
This is a smart move from VW. Instead of bring more of the same useless crap over and over again...the Scirocco that everyone is crying over now being the perfect example...they have the foresight possibly to start bringing over cars that serve a bigger purpose than stroking some 20-30 some year old douche bag's ego.
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Throwback 12:57PM (4/09/2009)
VW is a for profit company. If enough demand is here for a Scirocco then they should bring it over. If they can make money on the UP then bring that over also. I don't see where the two are mutually exclusive.
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bruce 3:23PM (4/09/2009)
It would be a smart move for VW if I thought for a second that they would actually do it. If past experience is any indication, they will eventually declare that the up! is not coming to the USA, then a few months later announce that it is coming after all, then tell us that the USA model will be bigger and heavier and powered by a dump-truck engine, then fall silent for a year before releasing the car with absolutely no marketing or promotion whatsoever, and continue to complain in automotive press interviews that "Americans won't buy small hatchbacks."
Prove me wrong, VW.
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Nixon 7:08PM (4/09/2009)
They could hire the same advertising agency that did the 7-up commercials.
"come in today and make this brand new Volkswagen Up! yours...."
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