Volkswagen, which had unveiled the European- spec two- door version of its all- new compact car last month, has now released official pictures of the five- door version that will be launched in India in 2012. Shown as the 'Cross Up!'concept car, this will be Volkswagens massmarket contender for India and is likely to be priced at around Rs four lakh, which would enable it to take on the likes of the Wagon R, Hyundai i10, Chevy Beat, Honda Brio and others in the same price bracket.
Volkswagen had earlier announced that the Up! will be offered with a three- cylinder, 60- 75bhp petrol engine. However, for India, it remains to be seen how VW intends to position its smallest hatchback. Depending on what cars the Germans intend to compete against, the India- spec Up! may be offered with either the all- new three- cylinder petrol engine ( which offers excellent mileage - up to 24km/ l, according to VW) or the 1.2- litre four- cylinder petrol engine that already does duty on the Polo.
The India- spec Up! is also likely to be marginally different from its Europeanspec cousins in some areas, including suspension setup and ride height. The Indian Up! will almost certainly have softer suspension settings to deal with our often poorly surfaced and pothole- ridden roads, while the ride height may be 10- 15mm taller, since added ground clearance is often required to traverse monster speed breakers and other road impediments.
Some of the styling elements seen on the Cross Up! concept car here might also make it to the production version that finally comes to India next year. Things like the black plastic cladding on the cars wheel- arches and side sill extensions, black side protection strips placed above the sills), roof rails and integrated fog lamps etc., which make the car look a bit sportier and help it stand out from a sea of all too similar hatchbacks, might find their way on to the production- ready Up! in India.
With Skoda also set to launch its Up!- based hatchback - Citigo - in India early next year, and Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Tata, Maruti, Ford, Fiat and many others also planning a major assault on this segment, things definitely won't be easy for VW. Whether the Up! can really bring about an upswing in VWs fortunes in India remains to be seen next year.