Volkswagen will launch the Up! small car in India next year. The German automaker had earlier decided to utilize platforms of Maruti Suzuki to design small cars, which would be based on the A-Star and WagonR. However, with the Volkswagen Suzuki alliance going everything but smooth, Volkswagen has called off sharing platforms with Maruti Suzuki and will instead commence its small car attack with the launch of the Up!. The Up! looks like a promising small car with good interior space and small dimensions. We can expect Volkswagen to heavily localise content to price the Up! close to Rs. 3 lakhs for the base variant.
Osami Suzuki, Chairman and CEO, Suzuki Motors has already told Volkswagen that he is ready to buy Volkswagen’s 19.9% stake in Suzuki and will sell their 1.5% stake in Volkswagen to end the alliance. Volkswagen blames Suzuki of violating terms of the alliance by partnering with Fiat for diesel engines. Now Fiat makes far superior engines (atleast in the less than 1200 cc diesel capacity) than Volkswagen and there is no reason Suzuki will dump the Multijet motors for a 3-pot VW powerplant. This same 1.2-liter TDi motor will power the Up! which will make its Indian debut at the 2012 Auto Expo. The Up! will also use the petrol engine of the Polo but there are high chances of Volkswagen re-tunning it for high fuel efficiency. The Volkswagen Up! will directly compete with the Maruti Suzuki WagonR, Honda Brio and Hyundai Eon.
Update - We have added two pictures of the Volkswagen Cross Up! which is the only 5-door version of the Up! small car. Volkswagen will launch a 5-door version of the Up! in India and there is very little chance of a 3-door version being launched in the near future.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
VW strength is in hybrid & electric engines.they do not have experties in sub 1.2 lit small engine & hence cannot beat suzuki in india where small cars rule.suzuki going with fiat engine will force chinees dragon VW away from maruti suzuki stronghold on indian soil.
Sachin, Volkswagen cannot challenge Suzuki but without Suzuki’s help they can’t challenge Hyundai either.
VW isn’t Chinese.. Its German and stands for top notch Quality n Finish.. Get your facts right first !!
germans are known for different Engineering but not Reliable engineering. Even BMW comes behind FIAT in terms of ‘initial vehicle quality’ where toyota stands top…. Germans are great engineers but not great car manufactures…. Any one can build luxury cars with higher price but not everybody can design a people quality car at a way cheaper price like fiat panda…
Looks too bony inside. Also two door concept will definitely not work. VW should learn somethings from Suzuki before parting ways :).
Sumit, they have also unveiled a 4-door version.
Looks like a hybrid- unfortunately its not. Anyways looks cute.
diesel option must 2 tk betal 2 maruti stronghold in A and B category with mouth watering prices
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Its excellent but looks like a Maruti Zen Estilo; Please let me know whether its a two seater, Since only 2 doors.
Good work very nice pictures.
Enjoy…
VW Up! is really superb, but two door concept will not accept in indian market & Indians. Up! should make 5 door car before launching in India & Up!spare parts should be very reasonable rates should not be expensive because Up! is launching for Middle class people .Middle class people will not effort more expensive maintenance for such a small car, mainly our Indians think about a good spacious
car,excellent mileage & low maintenance of car.