One enduring segment of the Indian car market even in the midst of a slowdown in the overall car sales growth has been the small car segment. The country’s largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki is set to come up with a sub-Alto car in the form of the Maruti 800′s facelift. Not to be left behind. the country’s second largest carmaker, Hyundai India, is planning to upstage Maruti by ringing in the 800cc Hyundai H800 Small Car by the Indian festive season of Diwali.
Now, Volkswagen too wants the ever growing pie of the Indian small car market and hence, the just unveiled Volkswagen Up!, which has been showcased just before the upcoming 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, will make it to the Indian car market. 2012 is when Volkswagen India might launch the Up! for the Indian car market, albeit in a 5 door version.
2012 Volkswagen Up! Small Car
The car is currently available with a 1 liter, 59 Bhp petrol engine that uses turbocharging and direct injection to endow it with a terrific claimed fuel economy figure close to 24 KMPL. The Volkswagen Up! currently doesn’t yet have a diesel engine in its kitty although we think that a diesel engine will definitely be in the scheme of things as Volkswagen has an ultra frugal 800cc, three pot common rail diesel engine in its kitty.
This engine has been showcased earlier in the Volkswagen XL1 Hybrid concept that delivered a phenomenal 100 KMPL. So, this 47 Bhp, CRDI diesel engine making it to the Indian Volkswagen Up! is something that could happen in the future given the tremendous demand for diesel cars in India. All said, the upcoming 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show is set to throw more light on the Volkswagen global plans for the Up!. Until then, keep an eye out on this space.
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