Just as the new up! compresses
all the virtues of a Volkswagen
into a compact city-friendly
package, the GT up! concept
promises to distil the driving
pleasure of the seminal hot
hatch, the GTI, into a powerful
yet petite package.
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Following
in the wheel tracks of another sporty small car – the original Golf GTI
– the GT up! exudes sporting style, from its wide-mouthed honeycomb
grille to its two chromed tailpipes – one either side.
The wide central grille is distinctly
larger than that on the standard up!, to allow plenty of air to the
engine, which could potentially pack 100 PS or more. Either side of
this, the broad bumper includes ducts to provide cooling airflow to the
front brakes, these ducts also containing the wing-shaped LED daytime
running lights. |
The sporting theme continues
along the flanks, which feature
extended sills and black
gloss-painted door mirrors. The
wheels are arch-filling 17-inch
alloys with wide
195-section tyres. At the rear,
a deep roof spoiler helps reduce
lift over the rear axle, while a
black diffuser at the bottom is
framed by an exhaust pipe on
either side.
In
the cabin, the GT up! is no less
sporty. Beneath a black roof
lining are anthracite-coloured
seats offset by central panels
with a blue chequered pattern
that has more than a hint of GTI
about it. The gloss-black
dashboard and upper door trim
panels are similarly offset by
blue rings around the air vent
nozzles, while the driver gets
to grip a chunky leather-bound
three-spoke wheel.
The GT up! remains a concept for
now but certainly received a
favourable reception when it was
shown at the recent Frankfurt
Motor Show.
Order books for the standard
three-door up! are already open,
and first customer deliveries
are expected in spring 2012.
