Thursday 19th January 2012

VW Up GT gets green light

Production plans confirmed for city car hot hatch

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Volkswagen will return to the junior hot hatch market with a production version of the Up GT concept, the company has confirmed.

The spiced-up city car, which was part of VW's line-up at the Frankfurt motor show last autumn, has been given the green light and is currently undergoing evaluation by senior VW execs.

Back in Frankfurt VW was making encouraging noises about the car being in the mould of the original Golf GTI, but we reckon that the new Up GT could be more like a spiritual successor to the Lupo GTI, which enjoys a loyal cult following.

As for the nitty gritty of the new Up GT, there's not much in the way of firm detail yet, as we don't know when, how much or how many.

But we do know a few things: the little three-cylinder engine remains, but a turbo will be strapped on to it, a six-speed gearbox will be attached (a manual, we hope) and 110hp will be provided. Sounds rather fun, doesn't it?

[Alfa159Ti]

Those Lupo GTis were pretty rated and residuals are still strong.

Will be interesting to see what they make of this.

[Defcon5]

I wonder how much more expensive it will be compared to the Twingo GT?

[Braintax]

This is what so many young people are looking for. Toyota/Peugeot/Citroen missed a trick by not producing a hot Aygo/C1/107!

[Defcon5]

They do a C1 VTR dont they?

[OldSpeed]

If they do a 5 door Up GT it could be a worthy successor to my Panda 100HP.

[MX7]

It needs the W12.

[YorkshirePudding]

What's a Gold Gti then?

[sleep envy]

YorkshirePudding said:

What's a Gold Gti then?

a kosher Golf

[YorkshirePudding]

sleep envy said:

a kosher Golf

[DanDC5]

Defcon5 said:

They do a C1 VTR dont they?

Yes they do but VTR/VTS in the Citroen range is nothing more than a trim level.

[Hellbound]

Wonder what a 'remap' would do to this tiny, turbo'd engine.

That's what all the kids do these days though right? 'Do a remap'.

[appletonn]

Hmm 3 cylinders, petrol and a turbo...

Modern spitual successor to the Daihatsu Charad GTti?

Either way, we need more nippy, light, fun and funky little cars, so I'm in!

[Madmatt74]

MX7 said:

It needs the W12.

+1

[dandarez]

sleep envy said:

YorkshirePudding said:

What's a Gold Gti then?

a kosher Golf

Trade-in at a pawnbroker?

WTF happened to proof-reading?

[Robmarriott]

I LOVE the way this looks.

[dandarez]

Asides, what a crazy name for a car up! is.

In the pub: 'What do you drive these days?'

'Oh, the wife's got a Take up!,
the son's got a Move up!,
daughter has a High up!
and naturally I have a up! black.'

'Oh yeah, the neighbour has a up! white.'


What a f. up!

[appletonn]

Robmarriott said:

I LOVE the way this looks.

I like it too, the black tailgate does it for me!

[BigTom85]

A Twingo looks the better prospect imho. 133bhp, NA power etc.

I'm glad VW are making it. Whats the betting its DSG only though?

[Tedz]

OldSpeed said:

If they do a 5 door Up GT it could be a worthy successor to my Panda 100HP.

Exactly what I was going to say. If they could capture the fun factor of the Panda, it would be a great car.

[Ecosseven]

Will be interesting to see how it is priced against the new Suzuki Swift Sport. The suzuki has 134 bhp, 6 gears (maunal) and weighs around 1050kg.