Volkswagen returns to its rear-engined roots with the up! concept, unveiled Monday before the Frankfurt Auto Show. VW CEO Martin Winterkorn gave a strong indication the four-seat car could see production one day as a part of the company's New Small Family lineup.

Winterkorn also hinted at the car being sold internationally under VW, Seat and Skoda brands to spread around costs.

The up! is about 136 inches long and 64 inches wide with seating for four, rear-wheel drive and modest luggage space under the hood. A VW logo faintly shows through the rear plastic hatch, but glows when the brake lights come on.

With the up!, VW is breaking its recent trend of chasing the high-end of the market at the same time it brings back a Volkswagen power train setup not seen since the original Beetle. Formula for success? It worked once before.

Source Autoblog

That could have potential. I think it looks better, and more stable, than a Smart.

new lupo/arosa it looks like to me?

Doesnt seam to be a bad little car

Looks promising to me...

I think it looks better, and more stable, than a Smart.

It's also nearly double the length of the ForTwo...surely it's more of a competitor to the Aygo/C1/107, etc.?

Rob.

It's also nearly double the length of the ForTwo...surely it's more of a competitor to the Aygo/C1/107, etc.?

Rob.

For sure.

modest luggage space under the hood

In a 'ground-up' modern car that's 136 inches long :thumbdwn:

Looks like another attempt at a chic, niche car like the VW Beetle (i.e. waste of time).

And it's rear-wheel drive :thumbdwn: (sorry, am not a purist).

It's like a smaller version of the roomster with the middle section cut out.

The tailgate and lights are very similar

Nah, the hubcaps are totally different :P

Nah, the hubcaps are totally different :P

Nothing a trip to Halfrauds wouldn't sort

I really like this idea, back to basics!

This is not simply a replacement for the Lupo or whatever, but a proper attempt at a budget car for £5-£6k (less in the far east)

I read somewhere that the group would be able to make the VW/Skoda/SEAT variants significantly different (unlike the Lupo/Arosa or the C1/107/Aygo)

Would be good with the Skoda 1.2 HTP engine in it as I guess it wouldn't weight very much

Rear engine, rear wheel drive, affordable ...

Hmmmm....

Sounds vaguely familiar ?

Will the Skoda version be called Estelle

as Felicia, Octavia & Superb were all recycled names

i think they should make a VAG badge and just let all the dealers sell the same car!

Rear engine, rear wheel drive, affordable ...

Hmmmm....

Sounds vaguely familiar ?

Will the Skoda version be called Estelle

as Felicia, Octavia & Superb were all recycled names

Lol, I doubt it but at least it's betting back to the 'real' Skoda vibe. I guess this car is likely to be the real-life incarnation of the Joyster concept.

Why bother making it rear wheel drive? That car will be aimed at young people, first time car buyers eg, people inexperienced with RWD.

I can see many getting written off due to inexperienced drivers getting the back ends out in the wet. Its not exactly sporty looking, just looks like another bubble car, hideous.

If they want to bring out a new sporty skoda thats rear wheel drive they should resurrect the classic lines and design of the S110R/Rapid coupe.

The Joyster is much nicer than the VW version.

I don't think the rear engine/rwd thing would be a problem. There won't be enough power to go powersliding anywhere, it's supposed to come with 2 and 3 cylinder engines.

If they want to bring out a new sporty skoda thats rear wheel drive they should resurrect the classic lines and design of the S110R/Rapid coupe.

Can't disagree there though! One day... one day!

In a 'ground-up' modern car that's 13ft long :thumbdwn:

Looks like another attempt at a chic, niche car like the VW Beetle (i.e. waste of time).

And it's rear-wheel drive :thumbdwn: (sorry, am not a purist).

136 inches were 11'4" when I went to school

The new Beetle & new Mini both made plenty of money

for the companies that made them,

no-one forced those people to buy them at inflated prices.

Cars are now fashion accessories, sadly,

that's why there's so many Chelsea tractors too.

I'm surprised no-one has arranged to have you stoned as a heretic for slating RWD,

I haven't had chance to find out what all the fuss is about yet.

the wheelbase looks to short to be RWD really, it'll just spin out and they'll all get recalled.

its also hideous, even by current VW standards.

and looks nothign liket he joyster, which was fairly swish.

136 inches were 11'4" when I went to school

Doh

So, what's 20 inches between friends

Not a Grammer skool, then :P

just seen the pics and i think its huckin fidius

Some bits stolen from the citroen parts bin?

Some bits stolen from the citroen parts bin?

How many times .............:(

The hubcaps are totally different

How many times .............:(

The hubcaps are totally different

If I was any good at photoshop.............. :P

If I was any good .........

S'what the wife keeps saying to me