The newly revised Volkswagen up! has been launched with subtle design alterations. So what’s new?
A new bonnet, LED running lights and a broader range of colours will add appeal, while interior personalisation options mean the up! can be customised to an individual’s taste. However, as yet there are no details about the new e-up! that’s expected to receive upgrades to its battery and possibly motor too.
The current e-up! is based on the high-end trim level, the High up!, and has the ‘Calzone’ design of 15-inch alloy wheels, a navigation interface and elegant ambient lighting mounted in the dash. The multi-function steering wheel allows the driver to access key controls – such as the radio – without taking his or her hands off the wheel. And the multi-function computer gives information about economy, journey times and expected range. All of this additional equipment is worth around £380 compared to the previous model and this bodes well for the refreshed e-up! when it arrives.
The up! includes a host of features including Cruise Control and ParkPilot. The latter uses ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper to make manoeuvring in tight spaces simpler. All trims, apart from the entry level Take up! model, come with ‘Composition Colour’ system as standard. This features a five-inch colour display screen and uses Bluetooth connectivity for audio. With the ‘Maps + More’ Volkswagen App, all smartphones with iOS or Android operating systems can be clicked into the USB-enabled docking station above the dash and the smartphone is then turned into a handy extension of the infotainment system, an improvement over the old Garmin stuck on system. This enables access to navigation, speakerphone, trip computer and other features.
At the cutting edge of this technology is the new up!’s handwriting recognition system. It is used when the driver or front passenger is searching for names, phone numbers, addresses or music titles. Each letter entered refines the search, and large icons simplify the intuitive input.
The revised up! is packed with safety features. ESC is Volkswagen’s Electronic Stabilisation Control and helps reduce the risk of skidding. It’s backed up with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System). Additionally, driver and front passenger airbags and an early crash sensor, which activates the seatbelt tensioners, feature in the car. The two rear seats are fitted with the ISOFIX system to make child seat installation simple, and 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 new up! range will grow later this year with the addition of the electric e-up!, with full details to be announced in due course. However, it is likely to follow similar styling queues to the current car, which maintains the look of the regular petrol powered High up!. Interior details may alter slightly, but we expect the car to be built on it. For more detail please visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.
Source; Volkswagen
Please note; Car pictured is the up!, not e-up!.
