Volkswagen is relaunching its up! model as an all-electric vehicle, specifically aiming to compete with the BYD Dolphin Mini. The German automaker has prepared the ID. Up, a subcompact car scheduled to debut in Europe next year, with an estimated price around 20 thousand euros (equivalent to R$ 119 thousand), a value comparable to that of the Dolphin Mini in the Brazilian market.
VW requested the registration of the vehicle's name in the European Union on October 22. According to Quatro Rodas magazine, this project was developed exclusively by the company's headquarters engineers, without involvement from Chinese partners, unlike what happened with Stellantis, which partnered with Leapmotor, or with VW itself in China, where it develops vehicles in collaboration with Xpeng.
The ID. Up will use an adaptation of the MEB+ platform, incorporating elements from the ID. Polo, but will feature a battery with a capacity lower than the 37 kWh of the larger model's entry version, which contributes to reducing the final cost of the automobile.
The electric motor located at the front is expected to replicate the 95 horsepower of the ID. Every1 concept. The projected range reaches over 250 km under the European WLTP cycle, a more optimistic figure than that established by Inmetro, and its maximum speed will be limited to 130 km/h.
With dimensions of 3.88 meters in length, the ID. Up is 28 centimeters longer than the up! sold in Brazil and 10 centimeters taller than the Dolphin Mini. The trunk space accommodates 305 liters, and the vehicle seats four passengers.
The design of the ID. Up references characteristics of the up!, such as the rear tailgate with a darkened finish. Inside, the multimedia center stands out, while physical controls have been retained on the steering wheel.
Additionally, the ID. Up will feature the new electronic architecture developed by VW in collaboration with Rivian, the American electric vehicle manufacturer. This system concentrates functionalities in a few more robust processing units instead of distributing dozens of control units throughout the car. Such systems are capable of being updated via the internet, allowing the car to receive new functions and corrections without needing a dealership visit, a practice already adopted by Chinese and Tesla models.
Production of this model will take place at the Palmela plant in Portugal starting in the middle of next year. However, the commercialization of the ID. Up in Brazil has not yet been confirmed.