Ok, now that I have your attention, here is the story of how Vee-dub's latest small car, newly released in South Africa, got its interesting and different (some call it silly) name.
Deceptively the name was not even up for consideration (pun intended) originally, and according to Petra Hoffmann, VWSA's director of sales and marketing, it all occurred by chance.
Hoffmann, who at the time was part of the team in Germany developing the small car successor to the Lupo, says sometime in 2012 an early version of the newly developed but still nameless model was shown to top management.
To indicate the positioning of the nameplate on the new design, a Lupo sign was fixed to the car with duct tape. "However, the tape covered the first and last letters of the name, leaving only the 'up' of Lupo observable...
Everyone noticed this, and afterwards they all started to affectionately refer to it as the Up. While other listed names were considered, it was Up that stuck.
The marketing department devised a special font for the nomenclature, added an exclamation mark, and the name was accepted. Up! Was born.
A year later (in 2013) the up! was introduced in Europe, but it took another three years – and some hard convincing, it seems – before the small VW found its way to South Africa.
Positioned below the fast-selling Polo Vivo and Polo the small three-door hatch is sure to upset the entry-level segment.
It was designed by a team led by Walter de Silva and Klaus Bischoff, and its understated yet attractive lines integrate styling elements of the Beetle and Golf.
While small externally, the up! has a long wheelbase of 2 420 mm. This creates enough usable space inside to house four and its 251-litre boot can be increased to 951 litres with the rear seat fully folded down.
While its large boot-lid may seem to only consist of a glass panel it truly has two more layers – a load-bearing framework upon which a second sheet-metal layer is laser-welded – to ensure good physical rigidity.
Powered by an advanced 999cc three-cylinder petrol engine distributing 55kW and 95Nm, the tiny newcomer has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 13.2 sec and a top speed of 171km/h. According to VW it sips only 4,7 l/100km of fuel in combined driving conditions and exhales only 108 g/km of CO2.
To avoid additional cannibalisation between the up! and Polo Vivo the former will (at least for the time being) be available in three-door form only.
Two three-door derivatives designated Take up! and Move up! are offered. The entry-level Take up! (R133 500) comes with manually adjustable door mirrors, manual air conditioner, daytime running lights and 14-inch steel wheels.
The Move up! (R140 500) gains body-coloured mirrors and handles, seat height adjustment, front electric windows, adjustable, heated door mirrors, remote central locking and a radio/CD-player with MP3 and two speakers.
Inside ease and functionality are the keywords, yet the layout is stylish, with solid and high quality finishes, and black pearl dash inserts are available in the top derivative as an optional extra.
Safety features include ABS and four airbags, while different option packs (Driver, Comfort, Winter and Sound Plus – adding from R800 to R3 000 to the base price) are available.
The small mill's lack of torque is clear on the open road, but the well-chosen gear ratios for the 5-speed manual 'box partly compensates for this. Its suspension is complaint and promises a good ride quality, and in the corners the lightweight 'un is good fun.
VW is aiming the small upstart at younger and first-time buyers, as well as empty-nesters who want to scale down. While not too clear on projected sales figures, Vee-dub hopes the up! will outdo the Kia Picanto, Chev Spark, Hyundai i10 and Suzuki Celerio on the charts.
A last thought on the smallest VW's name. Overseas the up! has a Seat cousin named the Wii and a Skoda twin known as Citigo…
Now, how cool and fitting would it have been if the local up! was badged Citigo?
If you enjoyed this article and want more of the same, visit MotorTalk, South Africa's favourite motoring portal.
Source : articlesbase.com
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