Overview

The VW Lupo is the smallest car manufactured by Volkswagen. It was introduced in 1999 to fill a gap at the bottom of the VW model range caused by the increasing size and weight of the VW Polo.

Details

The car is available with a variety of engine sizes and trim levels, from budget models through to the GTI variant. The GTI has been labelled a true successor to the VW Golf Mk.1, the first true hot hatch. Rivals include the Ford Ka and Fiat Panda.

Fuel economy records

Various special-edition and test models have set records in fuel economy. The lightweight nature of the car and advanced 3-cylinder diesel engine have resulted in a production model (the Lupo 3L) that can consume as little as 3 liters per 100 kilometers (78 miles per US gallon or 94 miles per Imperial gallon).

A flaw

The Lupo has an intriguing design flaw: the dashboard cup holder renders the driver unable to use 1st or 3rd gear.

Seat Arosa

The SEAT Arosa is a badge-engineered version of the Lupo.