The Volkswagen up! has been refreshed with new styling - while a new turbocharged 1.0-litre TSI engine also joins the range.
The up!’s exterior changes focus on the front and rear of the car, which is offered in either three- or five-door configuration. The front end gets a new bumper, which gives the up! a ‘mature look’ and works with the revised radiator grille and bonnet. The VW roundel is now chrome-on-black, the new LED running lights are an additional styling cue – enhancing safety, too – while the angular door mirrors and rear bumper has also been redesigned.
On the inside an all-new steering wheel design brings the interior up to date, and is combined with a revised dash that Volkswagen says offers exceptional quality in the class. The entry level ‘Take up!’ includes the ‘Composition’ infotainment system with rear-view reversing camera, remote central locking, electric front windows and driver’s seat height adjustment as standard. Those features are worth around £465 when compared to the equivalent spec on the previous model, however the list price is £20 more than before at £8,995 OTR.
The ‘Move up!’ model adds 15-inch ‘Fortaleza’ alloy wheels, a colour infotainment touch-screen with the ‘Composition Phone’ system and Bluetooth connection. The ‘High up!’ has the ‘Calzone’ 15-inch alloy wheels, a navigation interface and elegant ambient lighting mounted in the dash. A multi-function computer gives information about fuel economy, journey times and expected mileage before refuelling is necessary.
A new-for-2016 'up! Beats' model has been created in conjunction with music specialists Beats Audio, and feature a powerful 300-watt seven-speaker sound system, including a subwoofer in the boot. External styling cues for the Beats model include bespoke colour combinations, ‘Beats’ graphics and - depending on the colour of the car - red or black door mirrors.
The number of exterior paint colour options has increased from 10 to 13 with seven new colours including ‘Costa Azul’, ‘Honey Yellow’ and ‘Savanna Gold’. The roof can also be coloured separately, via the new Roof Pack, in either black, white or ‘Urano Grey’. The Roof Pack also adds colour co-ordinated door mirrors and 65 per cent tinted rear side windows. Coloured alloy wheels can also be specified with matching hue repeated in the door mirrors and the styling decals.
There is now also the option to specify BlueMotion Technology engines throughout the range, which saves fuel and cuts CO2 emissions, with Stop/Start technology. Regenerative braking, which stores energy by charging the battery as the car slows is also part of the BlueMotion range.
The engine line-up comprises two petrol engines that offer three different power outputs. A naturally aspirated three-cylinder 12-valve petrol engine is available with an output of 60 or 75 PS, or for the first time in an up! there’s the option of a new turbocharged petrol powerplant - the 1.0-litre TSI engine with 90 PS. This new turbocharged engine offers sub-10 second 0-62 mph time, a top speed of 114 mph and is mated to a manual five-speed gearbox. Economy and emissions range from 60.1 mpg (combined) to 68.9 mpg (combined) and 96 g/km to 108 g/km depending on engine and gearbox choice.
Other tech features include Cruise Control, ParkPilot, a 3.1-inch monochrome display, DAB radio and a CD player, the ‘Maps + More’ Volkswagen App and a handwriting recognition system.
Safety features include ESC- Volkswagen’s Electronic Stabilisation Control, ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) and an early crash sensor, which activates the seatbelt tensioners. City Emergency Braking predicts frontal impacts and primes the brakes - if the driver doesn’t intervene, the brakes are then applied, reducing accident severity or even avoiding a collision entirely.
The revamped Volkswagen up! is on sale now.