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With Volkswagen’s baby up! not quite showroom-ready, the Wolfsburg company is giving potential owners the chance to sample its new city car – in the virtual world.

Available, free of charge, from iTunes, the “Volkswagen up! Challenge – Game App” can be played on an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. The game app features three different skill levels and three game modes, including a single player time trial mode and multiplayer races around six different city circuits. It can also connect to Facebook, allowing users to compare their results with each other.

The app also includes a virtual showroom, which offers a 360° presentation of the new model, and links to Volkswagen’s up! microsite.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Volkswagen UK has begun taking orders for the company’s new up! model. All versions are powered by a new 1.0 L three-cylinder petrol engine, with prices starting at £ 7,995 (€ 9,260) for the 60 PS Take up!. Standard specification includes body-coloured bumpers, daytime running lights, the new RCD 215 CD radio with aux-in, and 14-inch steel wheels.

For £ 8,970 (€ 10,390), the Move up! has the same 60 PS engine, but enjoys remote central locking, electric front windows, air conditioning and 60:40 split/fold rear seats. Externally, you’ll find body-coloured door handles and mirrors. An extra £360 gets you BlueMotion Technology, which includes a Stop/Start system, battery regeneration and low rolling resistance tyres, resulting in an expected 67.2 mpg (up from 62.7 mpg), and a reduced CO2 figure of 97 g/km (down from 105 g/km), allowing it to dodge road tax costs.

The 75 PS High up! will set you back £ 10,390 (€ 12,035). Very little money for a car that features heated front seats, electrically heated and adjustable mirrors, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel, gear lever and handbrake grip. The removable Maps & More personal infotainment device provides navigation, telephone duties, information and entertainment – all controlled via a touchscreen. Visually, the High up! is fitted with front fog lights and 15-inch alloy wheels.

Finally, two special editions, the up! black and up! white are finished in deep black pearl or pure white metallic paint, and feature chrome door mirror caps and door side strips and 16-inch alloy wheels. The centre of the wheels are painted to match the car’s exterior, as is the dashboard. The rest of the cabin includes exclusive ‘stripes’ upholstery and mats. These specials come in at £ 11,180 (€ 12,950).

If you’d rather put your own model together, Volkswagen offers a wide range of extras, including such items as remote central locking, electric front windows, chrome pack, 16-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, parking sensors, cruise control, and the Driver’s assistance pack, which includes the City Emergency Braking. This system, which is active at speeds up to 18 mph, uses a laser sensor to detect potential collisions and can avoid crashes by applying the brakes automatically.

[Source: Volkswagen UK]

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Volkswagen Vans has released details of its new California Beach camper. The entry-level model is capable of seating seven people and accommodating four. The pop-up roof gives access to one double bed, while the bench-seat easily converts to a further two-berth bed.

The front seats can be swivelled around to face the rear and a portable table, which is stored within the side door, while two additional folding chairs are stored in the tailgate. The Sunny Yellow paintwork and ‘Takato’ upholstery are unique to Beach models. Other standard equipment includes those 16-inch ‘Miyato’ alloys, air conditioning and an eight speaker CD/radio system. Optional extras such as double glazing, a programmable parking heater, a 32-litre cool/warm box, satellite navigation and xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights can also be specified.

A choice of 2.0 L TDI engines are available; a 114 PS BlueMotion Technology model with a five-speed manual gearbox, cruise control, brake regeneration and Stop/Start system, it returns an impressive combined fuel economy figure of 40.4 mpg and a CO2 output of 184 g/km.

Alternatively, the more powerful 140 PS engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission, and returns 36.7 mpg with CO2 emissions of 203 g/km.

Prices start at £34,970 (€ 40,506) RRP on the road (including VAT).

[Source: Volkswagen Vans]

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