Motoring

Up! but now down: Volkswagen’s smallest hatch says goodbye

Not offered in South Africa since being dropped some three years ago, Volkswagen has reportedly ended production of the VW up! after 12 years at its Bratislava plant in Slovakia.

The smallest no more

Wolfsburg’s smallest model that slotted-in below the Polo first as a three-door and then from 2015, a five-door, the replacement for the never-available-in-South-Africa Fox and before that the Lupo concluded its tenure last week without any mentioning being made.

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Marketed by sister Volkswagen Group brands Seat and Skoda as the Mii and Citigo in a badged engineered capacity, the up!’s discontinuation officially brings to an end the trio of models based on the dedicated New Small Family (NSF) platform as Skoda ceased production in 2020 and Seat the following year.

*_{As in Europe, the up! originally only came with three-doors. Image: Volkswagen}*

Build in Bratislava, but also in South America in the case of the up! only, Britain’s Autocar reports that the departure of the NSF models will pave the way for the introduction of the all-electric ID.1 in 2027.

Paving the way for ID.1

While originally rumoured for ending in 2025, the earlier than expected decision to end the up! will likely provide Volkswagen with more time to develop ID.1 company boss Thomas Schäfer admitted represents a challenge to make a profit on at its projected €17 000 (R344 993) price tag.

*_{Five-door up! became available in 2016. Image: Volkswagen}*

The phasing-out of the up! and reinstatement of the Polo as Volkswagen’s smallest model will be short though as the latter itself will have disappeared by the end of next year in favour of the production ID.2all that will sit above the ID.1 and below the ninth generation Golf that also will become a EV in 2028.

*_{Interior of the original South African-spec up! Image: Volkswagen.}*

“We are transforming the company rapidly and fundamentally – with the clear objective of making Volkswagen a genuine Love Brand.

*_{Crossover-flavoured Cross up! arrived in 2016 based on the success of the then CrossPolo. Image: Volkswagen}*

“We are implementing the transformation at pace to bring electric mobility to the masses,” former Volkswagen South Africa boss Thomas Schäfer said in a statement following the unveiling of the ID.2all in March this year.

Missed models

Besides the regular up!, which derived motivation from a normally aspirated 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and then later, a low compression 1.0 TSI, the introduction of the ID.1 will also see it replace the all-electric e-up! introduced in 2013 and then upgraded with a bigger battery pack in 2019.

*_{The all-electric e-up debuted in 2013 before receiving a bigger battery as part of a mid-life update in 2019. Image: Volkswagen}*

What’s more, the up!’s axing brings to an end the up! GTI that debuted in 2016 powered by the TSI mill, but with outputs raised from 75kW/165Nm to 85kW/200Nm.

Withdrawn from the UK in January this year due to demand outstripping supply in what was described as a temporary move that eventually stood, according to Autocar, the up! GTI was deemed the spiritual successor to the original Golf GTI and did 196 km/h while completing the 0-100 km/h dash in 8.8 seconds.

*_{up! GTI became a reality in 2016. Image: Volkswagen}*

Tipping the scales at 1 070 kg, the up! GTI’s amount of twist reached the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox only, a move also billed as being a homage to the Mk I Golf GTI that first utilised a four-speed and then later a five-speed manual ‘box.

*_{Based on the three-door, the GTI made use of a 1.0 TSI engine developing 85kW/200Nm. Image: Volkswagen}*

Wolfsburg’s switch towards full electrification before 2030 in Europe, as well as the unveiling of the ID.GTI Concept based on the ID.2all at the Munich Mobility IAA last month, could eventually extend to the ID.1 as a performance replacement for the up! GTI should approval be given.

*_{GTI’s interior sported tartan seats, red accents, a GTI steering wheel and special knob atop the six-speed manual gearbox. Image: Volkswagen}*

For now, this is purely speculative and unconfirmed, meaning a clearer picture about the ID.1 is only expected to emerge once the production ID.2all becomes a reality.

Where does South Africa stand?

As is well known by now, Volkswagen South Africa will continue assembling the Polo and Polo Vivo at its Kariega Plant in the Eastern Cape past 2025 as opposed to following the same path as Europe.

*_{Both the current Polo and Polo Vivo will remain in South Africa post 2025. Image: Mpumelelo Macu}*

A third model, still only billed as an SUV-type vehicle powered by a combustion engine, is forecasted to join the pair in 2026 based on the same MQB A0 platform that will be renamed A0 Entry.

An announcement confirming the newcomer for local market assembly remains to be concluded though, with Volkswagen South Africa Chairperson and Managing Director, Martina Biene, saying it remains “confident” that Germany will approve South Africa come the end of 2023.

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