Variations of the Volkswagen Up! have been touring the auto show circuit for years, and now VW has announced plans to start production of the minicar at its Bratislava, Slovakia, plant. This will include the three-door Up! hatchback, the Space Up! (an Up! with a longer wheelbase and an extra pair of doors) and the Space Up! Blue, an all-electric version (we're guessing the supplemental high-temperature fuel cell and solar panel from the original concept won't make it to production). Unlike the original Up!s, which were said to be rear-engine/rear-drive, the production versions will be conventional transverse front-engine, front-drive cars.
The Bratislava plant, which also assembles the Touareg, Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne, built 249,000 vehicles in 2007, but production has fallen below 200K since then. But since the Up! will spawn lower-cost Seat and Skoda versions as part of Volkswagen's New Small Family car line, VW plans to get annual output up to 400,000 vehicles.
IL News: Volkswagen Up! Goes into Slovakia Production in 2011
charlesncharge says:
09:51 AM, 12/ 8/09
Just an FYI -
..."VW has announced plans to start production of the rear-engine, rear-drive minicar"...
I believe those plans have since been shelved - the VW Up! is going front-engine, front-drive, for what I've read elsewhere.
eriches says:
10:55 AM, 12/ 8/09
@ charlesncharge: Yes, indeed, I did get careless with the facts. Thanks. Correction has been made. - E. Riches