Frankfurt, Sept. 14: Volkswagen is looking to bring the small car Up! to India following its premiere at the 64th IAA International Motor Show here.

“The whole world is sold on small cars. The Up! has been specifically made for the European market and will go on sale in November. We want to bring it to India but will have to first price it in a way that it becomes a viable proposition,” Vinay Garg, board member and director (passenger cars), Volkswagen Group Sales, India, said here.

The Up! is a 3.54-metre long four-seater with a sub 1 litre engine, which fits the compact car specifications in India and is eligible for government concessions.

The company will introduce a four-door version later.

Volkswagen has developed a three-cylinder engine for the Up! in both petrol and CNG versions.

In Germany, the Up! has been priced at 9,850 euros and 10,450 euros, respectively.

On the design of the car, Volkswagen design head Walter de Silva said: “It is a perfect balance of proportions, precise use of every single line. Never before have we applied simplicity with such consistency as with the Up!”

The Up! is likely to give tough competition to top manufacturers Maruti and Hyundai in India.

After back to back launches of the new Jetta and the Passat in India, Volkswagen has now climbed up to the eighth position in India among the manufacturers.

“We are posting a growth of around 150 to 160 per cent and are very bullish about the market now,” said Garg.

The company had sold 32,000 units across all models in India last year and 45,000 units in the last seven months.

The Up! will further drive volumes in the country, Garg said.

The reporter is on a sponsored trip to Frankfurt