Top 10 Frankfurt show cars coming soon - Volkswagen Up

• All-new city car
• Price from £8000 (est)
• On sale December

The Volkswagen Up was one of the stars of the Frankfurt motor show.

Volkswagen’ new city car crams an impressive amount of space into a tiny footprint. At a Fiat 500-sized 3.5m long, 1.6m wide and 1.5m high, it is one of the smallest four-seater cars available, but it will comfortably accommodate four people. The 251-litre boot is one of the biggest in this class, too.

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The range will be launched with three versions: the entry-level Take Up; the Move Up, which is more geared to comfort, and the top-of-the-range High Up. Prices are expected to start at around £8000.

Just two three-cylinder, 1.0-litre petrol engines will be available at first: a 60bhp variant delivering 67.3mpg, and a 75bhp motor that will do 65.7mpg. Both are expected to emit less than 100g/km of CO2. Bluemotion Technology versions featuring stop-start systems and superior efficiency are set to follow next year.

City driving is at the heart of the Up's design, which is why you'll be able to specify your Up with the first automatic emergency braking system seen on a supermini. It works at speeds of less than 18mph, and stops the Up running into an obstacle. It's a nice touch, but you'll have to pay extra for it.

The standard interior on all models is basic, but clean and well organised. The dash, seats and side panels can be colour-matched to the car's exterior paintwork.

Volkswagen has also confirmed that the Up platform will be used for its first electric production car, the Up blue-e-motion that's planned for sale in 2013.

Rivals
Fiat 500
Hyundai i10