Tag Archives: VW Up!

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Geparda – a vehicle that can be driven by 16-year-olds

In February, Microlino Car introduced a fully electric four-wheeled Quadricycle inspired by the Isetta, a bubble car from the 1950s, which 14-year-olds will be able to drive in Italy and France. Now, a similar car has been introduced in Germany that 16-year-olds will be able to drive, the Geparda.

The car is 3,600 mm long, 1,643 mm wide and 1,484 mm high and can accommodate up to four passengers. It is based on the VW UP! and at first glance it looks like a standard tricycle. However, there are two wheels on the rear, but with a reduced track. Since it is not a standard car, anyone with an A1 license can drive this vehicle.

When it comes to design, it doesn’t differ much from the UP! model. Instead of wheel arches, there are full panels with the inscription “Geparda” reminiscent of the Volkswagen XL1, where the added panels had an aerodynamic purpose. It is equipped with a modified chassis that provides better stability of the car after the installation of a shorter rear axle, front H&R stabilizer, Eibach springs at the rear, disc brakes at the front and drums at the rear, ESP and ABS systems, and four airbags.

The car is powered by a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine with just 20 hp (15 kW) mated to a five-speed manual transmission that sends power to the front wheels. Although it does not have much horsepower, the 908 kg Geparda can reach a top speed of 110 km/h (68 mph).

The vehicle is already on sale and the price of 20,000 euros seems too high.

Source: Geparda

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Geparda - a vehicle that can be driven by 16-year-olds
News

VW Up! will no longer be produced

At the 2011 International Motor Show Germany Volkswagen presented the city car VW Up!, and two years later the electric version, VW E-Up!, arrived on the market. It was offered as a 3-door and 5-door hatchback, and 12 years later, VW announced that the small city car had come to an end.

The car was produced in the plants in Bratislava (Slovakia), where they are already ready for the production of the new Passat station wagon. Only already produced versions remain in the offer for potential customers.

After the cessation of production of the Citigo (Skoda) and Mii (Seat) models, Volkswagen was left without a car in the A segment. However, the company has already announced that by the end of the decade it will offer a similar electric model, the ID.1, which will be a cheaper alternative to the previously announced ID.2 model.

Currently in the Volkswagen offer, the Polo is the smallest but also the most affordable model in the offer for European markets. There’s also the Up GTI, premiered in 2016, powered by a 1.0-liter three-cylinder TSI petrol engine with 113 hp (85 kW), which is enough to push the small city car to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8 .8 seconds with a top speed of 196 km/h (122 mph).

Source: Volkswagen

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VW Up! will no longer be produced