2007 Tokyo Motor Show: Volkswagen Space Up! Concept

• Looks like: A boring answer to the Mazda5
• Defining characteristics: Suicide doors, lots of rear glass
• Ridiculous features: All four seats swivel to face each other … while parked
• Chance of being mass-produced: VW is looking at new small cars for the globe; it’s doubtful they’ll reach the U.S.

At just 144 inches long, the space up! concept isn’t as big as it looks. An inch shy of a Mini Cooper, we’d be shocked if VW could pull off this much space in a real production version. VW says because the engine is in the back of the vehicle — think Beetle — it’s able to open up a lot of interior volume.

While this is a novel idea for European consumers, we’re left wondering why the company hasn’t delivered an updated version of its popular bus from the 1960s and 1970s instead. More images of the concept below.

Comments

Its NOT Boring, its nice, it has swivel and since it does not have a long Bonnet, it may have ample space for the passengers and the cargo.

It should be ideal for Rentals and Secondary cars.

Most people dont realise this, as more Hatch models come, sales will start increasing.

In Year-2000, very few CUV's were there, now they have 13 % market share which is more than Truck based SUVs.

Micro-car lovers unite! Bring 'em on!

I don't see how it's a competitor for the Mazda5 - it's about 2 feet shorter. This would definately fall within the micro car class but there isn't much out there in the US that it will compete with. Seems much roomier than the cooper clubman and it will likely compete with the new Fit. There is plenty in europe that it would compete with. If they do bring it to the US they will likley drop the suicide doors. But please give it a turbo diesel and about 60mpg.

I didn't say it was a competitor to the Mazda 5 I said it looked like a boring version of one. The Mazda5 is the micro-est of vans we have int he US as of right now so it does have some relevance.

The Mazda5 is more boring than this!

really ziggy? this doesn't do anything for me. There's now "VW-ness" to it. No real funk or anything.

For someone that gets to see and test dozens of vehicles every year you're going to have a completely different perspective. I'm not looking for "VW-ness' when looking at a volkswagon or "Toyota-ness" when looking at a Toyota. With concepts I only initially care about it's style and functionality. To me this has both - no matter what badge it has on it.

I agree with you that the size and functionality is interesting, but VW has a history of over the top designs that I like to see in a concept car. This just doesn't do it for me there.

they just need to put the Passat's chrome shield on there and it should look great...

VW builds a Scion xB...

M3,

If that's true.. It will be sucessful so why is that a bad thing?