Volkswagen’s latest baby is here. The Fox, replacement for the Lupo city car, made its European debut at the Leipzig Motor Show in Germany last week.At 3820mm, the Brazilian-built Fox is 300mm longer than a Lupo. It will be offered with a choice of three engines, all plundered from within VW’s existing range, when sales start in the UK early next year. The petrol options will be a 1.2-litre unit with 54bhp and a 1.4-litre engine with 74bhp. There will also be a 74bhp 1.4-litre turbodiesel.VW claims that the Fox, which is only coming to Europe in three-door form, can carry four adults. It is equipped with a split/fold rear seat that also slides fore and aft by 150mm.
Production of the Lupo will cease before the end of 2005, although the GTi continues as it’s built on a separate production line. The Fox will need to undercut its predecessor’s £7440 starting price to remain competitive against the likes of the Ford Ka (which starts at £7095) and the trio of new city cars from Toyota, Peugeot and Citroën. VW will only say that the Fox will be ‘competitive within the segment.’
There’s no word yet on whether the Crossfox, a jacked-up plastic-clad faux 4x4 version of the Fox in the same vein as the Polo Dune, will be launched in Europe.
Also unveiled in Leipzig was the facelifted Polo, which goes on sale in the UK this June.
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