Here's our best look yet at what a Euro-spec VW Up microcar could look like. This VW Up! Lite concept car was shown at today's 2009 LA auto show – to preview a productionised baby VW, with a diesel-electric powertrain for a stunning 116mpg economy figure.
The Up Lite! is openly based on many of the production parts of the forthcoming 2011 Up range, dubbed New Small Family. Originally, the Up had been engineered to be rear-engined and rear-drive, but the matrix has swapped to a more conventional front-engine, front-drive layout.
This particular Up is also the biggest one yet: at 3840mm long, it's only 14cm shorter than a Polo. Hence there's space for four seats, wrapped up in the long-tail three-door bodystyle.
How come the new VW Up! Lite is so clean?
Remember the L1 car from the 2009 Frankfurt show? This takes many of that car's innovations, puts them through a more rational, production feasible filter and spits out what could pass for a showroom Volkswagen a few years hence.
The powertrain is chiefly responsible for the 116mpg combined economy figure. There's a new 800cc two-cylinder TDI diesel engine (also seeen in the L1, and heading to a showroom near you) developing 50bhp and mated to a 10kW electric motor, which acts as a starter, alternator and power source for zero-emissions running.
Driving through a seven-speed DSG twin-clutch box tuned for lazy economy, the Up! Lite is claimed to emit just 65g/km of CO2. No wonder VW calls it the world's cleanest four-seater.
Read more: carmagazine
