Volkswagen · 1998–2005

Volkswagen Lupo

The Volkswagen Lupo (Typ 6X) is a city car that was produced by the German car manufacturer Volkswagen from 1998 to 2005. It shares most of its aspects with the Volkswagen Group's SEAT Arosa, both derived from the Volkswagen Polo Mk3 platform, mainly differing in styling and equipment. It is a three-door hatchback with a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. The Lupo name is Latin, meaning wolf, and is named after its home town of Wolfsburg.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Successor: Volkswagen Fox|Volkswagen Up!|Škoda Citigo

All Volkswagen Lupo data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Model history

The Lupo was introduced in October 1998, to fill the void at the bottom of the Volkswagen model range caused by the increasing size and weight of the Polo. The right-hand-drive version for the UK market was launched in the spring of 1999. In Japan, two models with petrol 4-valve 1.4L and 4-speed automatic with lock-up on the 4th were launched on 11 July 2001. Lupo uses the A00 platform which is a shortened version of the Polo/Ibiza A0 platform. Initially only available in two trim variants, the budget E trim and the upgraded S trim; the range later expanded to include a Sport and GTI variant. Petrol engines ranged from 1.0 to 1.4 (1.6 for the GTI) with diesels from 1.2 to 1.7. The differences between the E and S trim included painted door mirrors, door handles and strip, central locking, electric windows, double folding seats and opening rear windows. The Sport also got a chrome centre exhaust and front foglights as standard. The Lupo was designed by Jozef Kabaň. Replacement. Sales of the Lupo were slow and missed Volkswagen's targets. In 2001 a Volkswagen source claimed that it was decided the Lupo would eventually be discontinued and replaced by a model built in China. Production of the Lupo was discontinued in June 2005, and was replaced on the European market by the Brazilian designed Fox. Due to the decision taken by Volkswagen, to use the Fox instead of developing any genuine replacement for the Lupo. The Lupo's spiritual successor, Volkswagen up!, was released in 2011.

Specifications

Length: 3,530 mm (139.0 in) Width: 1,803 mm (71.0 in) with mirrors, 1,640 mm (64.6 in) without Height: 1,447–1,475 mm (57.0–58.1 in) Luggage capacity (rear seats up): 130 litres, (rear seats down) 833 litres Weight: 890–1,015 kg (1,962–2,238 lb)

Engines

== Versions == Lupo 3L. The Volkswagen Lupo 3L (Typ 6E) was a special edition made with the intent of being the world's first car in series production consuming as little as 3 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (78 miles per US gallon or 94 miles per Imperial gallon). To achieve this, the 3L was significantly changed from the standard Lupo to include: 1.2 litre three cylinder diesel engine with turbocharger and direct injection Use of lightweight aluminum and magnesium alloys for doors, bonnet (hood), rear hatch, seat frames, engine block, wheels, suspension system etc. to achieve a weight of only 830 kg (1,830 lb) Tiptronic gearbox Engine start/stop automatic to avoid long idling periods Low rolling resistance tires Automated manual transmission and clutch, to optimise fuel consumption, with a Tiptronic mode for the gearbox Changed aerodynamics, so a c w {\displaystyle \mathbf {c} _{\mathrm {w} }\,} value of 0.29 was achieved The 3L, along with the GTI and FSI, had a completely different steel body to other Lupos, using thinner but stronger steel sheet. The car had an automated manual transmission with a Tiptronic mode on the selector and electro-hydraulic actuation system for the clutch and shifting. The car also had an ECO mode. When engaged it limited the power to 41 bhp (31 kW; 42 PS) (excluding kick down) and programmed the transmission to change up at the most economical point. ECO mode also activated the start/stop function, a feature that was new to European cars at the time. To restart, the driver simply takes their foot off the brake and presses the accelerator. In ECO mode, the clutch was disengaged when the accelerator pedal was released for maximum economy, so the car freewheels as much as possible, with the clutch re eng

Production figures

More than 480,000 units of the Volkswagen Lupo have been produced through its lifetime. The total production per year of the Lupo is shown below:

Literature

Hans-Rüdiger Etzold (2012). So wird's gemacht: VW Lupo/SEAT Arosa 1997–2005 (in German) (7th ed.). Delius Klasing Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7688-1182-8.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Volkswagen Lupo
Manufacturer: Volkswagen
Production: 1998–2005
Assembly: Germany: WolfsburgBetween 1998 and 2006; from 2001, the 3L, GTI models only., Belgium: BrusselsBetween 2001 and 2006; except 3L, GTI models.
Class: City car (A)
Body style: 3-door hatchback
Layout: Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Platform: Volkswagen Group A00 platform
Related: SEAT Arosa
Engine: petrol:, 1.0 L I4, 1.4 L I4, 1.6 L I4, diesel:, 1.2 L turbo I3, 1.4 L turbo I3, 1.7 L I4
Transmission: 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual, 5-speed automated manual, 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 2318 mm
Length: 3524 mm
Width: 1640 mm
Height: 1457 mm
Kerb weight: 975 kg
Successor: Volkswagen Fox
Designer: Jozef Kabaň