VW Chico! - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

Suze · 04-03-2009, 10:10 AM

2012 Volkswagen Chico Review and Prices

This sounds like fun!

"...the 2012 Volkswagen Chico will be offered with three engines. The most likely candidate for a U.S. version would be an expected 1.4-liter gasoline 4-cylinder with direct fuel injection and a gas-saving cylinder-deactivation system that turns off two cylinders in light-load driving, such as moderate-speed freeway cruising. Also said to be on the docket are a 1.2-liter turbocharged gasoline 3-cylinder and a 1.2-liter three-pot diesel. VW thinks the diesel Chico will achieve well over 100 miles per gallon and have CO₂ emissions of just 60g/km, well under the 130g fleet-average standard that's scheduled to take effect in the Euro zone come 2012. All engines are likely to team with a 6-speed manual transmission or, at extra cost, the new 7-speed version of VW's DSG automated-manual...."

"...all Chicos will come with an engine stop/start function and regenerative braking, which effectively makes these "mild hybrid" cars...."

**jwight** · 04-03-2009, 10:20 AM

The production version of the Up! concept: http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...agen-chico.htm

Oops! same article.

Orphan-Beggar · 04-03-2009, 10:22 AM

"2012 Volkswagen Chico Prices: Autocar thinks the Chico could sell in the U.K. for as little as $7,800 at current exchange rates. We doubt the U.S. version will start that low, due to a likely higher level of standard content. But a base of around $9,000 certainly looks feasible, especially given that VW is now pushing hard to lower production costs without compromising build quality. Americans will get to judge how well that effort is working once the revamped 2010 Rabbit and Jetta compacts arrive here in 2009."

**rfernatt** · 04-03-2009, 10:23 AM

Great find! I want cry April Fools, but this is certainly within reach of VW. Slap a plastic body on it, make the diesel and 7-speed DSG available in the US, and sign me up! Now, if VW can put their quality issues behind them...

Suze · 04-03-2009, 10:31 AM

Yeah, about those prices - I'll believe it when I see it!

**jwight** · 04-03-2009, 12:15 PM

Pries based on exchange rates; as the dollar loses value (as it's doing again) the US price will increase. Still, an interesting car that shows there's more than one way to approach the small urban commuter car concept.

BigWarpGuy · 04-04-2009, 05:50 AM

If the Beetle is the bug, would this be a buggette?