Brazil - VW to launch Up! in first week of February

21/12/2013 - 12:10 VW Up!, Volkswagen, Brazil Anjan Ravi

VW will launch the Up! in the Brazilian market in the first week of February next year. As our readers are aware, the German giant has already commenced production of the four-door hatchback at their Taubate plant in Sao Paulo this month.

VW Twin Up! side view at 2013 Tokyo Motor Show — The Up! for South American will be 30 mm longer than the Euro version.

VW engineers have altered the Up! for the South American market, based on customer clinics that were conducted in Brazil. The Up! for South America will be 30 mm longer than the European model, and the bootlid of the hatchback will ditch its all-glass construction for a traditional steel and glass construction.

Thanks to the increased length, the South American Up! has its boot space enlarged by 30 liters, and the rear seats are expected to offer marginally enhanced space.

VW Twin Up! rear fascia at 2013 Tokyo Motor Show — The South American model will use a traditional bootlid, ditching the all-glass layout of the Euro model.

The interiors of the car will feature plastic trims, instead of the exposed, body-colored metal of the Euro model.

Powering the hatchback will be a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine, codenamed EA211. The same engine used on the VW Fox delivers 19.3 km/l, and we estimate the Up! to breach the 20 km/l mark thanks to its lighter weight. When run on gasoline, the engine will produce 82 hp, and with ethanol, it will produce a higher 88 hp.

Even the base variants of the South American Up! could feature ABS, dual front airbags, while the top-end model will get a multi-function steering wheel and parking sensors.

[Source - Otempo]