The production version of Volkswagen's up! Small city car has been officially revealed ahead of its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The mini VW measures just 3.54 m long and 1.64 m wide, making it some 400mm shorter and 40mm narrower than the Polo. The production version will adopt a front-engine, front-wheel drive setup.

At launch, it will be offered with a new 1.0-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine available with either 60 hp or 75 hp. When opted with VW's BlueMotion Technology that includes an auto stop/start system, the 60 hp version returns a combined fuel consumption figure of 4.2L/100km while the 75hp version drinks a little more at 4.3L/100km. Both versions are said to emit less than 100 g/km CO2. A natural gas engine with 68 hp will follow at a later date.

Despite its compact dimensions, the up! promises to offer accommodation for four adults thanks to the long 2.42 m wheelbase and the forward mounting of the engine which maximizes interior space. The German automaker noted that the up! Will be the only model in its class to offer the City Emergency Braking System. The latter is an active safety system that operates automatically at speeds under 18 mph and uses a laser sensor to assess the risk of an accident. If the driver doesn