What's the news?
Volkswagen will give the revised up! range a first outing at the Geneva Motor Show next week, and while the exterior seems not to have changed much, there are more significant under-the-skin revisions.
The new up! will now come with new, somewhat curvier-looking headlights (with standard integrated LED daytime running lights), new bumpers, grille and trims items. Plus, there are seven new colours (bringing the total colour choice to 13).
Inside, there are more customisation options, including a choice of ten 'dashpad' colours and two new infotainment systems - the top Composition Phone version of which uses a Bluetooth connection to your smartphone to provide on-board trip-computer, fuel saving tips, DAB and internet radio integration and off-line maps for navigation that won't eat up! your data or roaming costs.
The existing 60hp and 75hp 1.0-litre three-cylinder engines are now joined by a new 90hp turbo-triple TSI unit, which Volkswagen boasts can match the performance of a Mk1 Golf GTI, but with 65mpg fuel economy. Maximum torque of 160Nm can be used from 1,500rpm onwards, and it will sprint to 100km/h in 10 seconds, while Volkswagen says it'll return 4.4 litres per 100km and emit 102g/km of CO2.
There's also now the option of a high-end 300-watt stereo system designed for Volkswagen by Beats Audio, which comes with an eight-channel amp and a digital signal processor. In spite of the car's smallness, the Beats version comes with seven high-end speakers around the cabin, including a sub-woofer in the spare wheel well. To get the special stereo, you'll have to buy a special edition up! Beats, which also comes with 15-inch alloys, special decals and colour co-ordinated seatbelts.
Best of all, Volkswagen says that the revised up! will be exceptional value - in spite of a general rise in standard equipment, prices are expected to be kept the same as for the current model.
Sales will start in the summer.