Volkswagen’s city car may be called ‘ID. Lupo’

And it aims to sell three times as many Lupos as Ups!

This is the concept car upon which the VW ID. 1 will be based, or perhaps aka ID. Lupo.

Volkswagen is saying it needs an entry-level car. And it won’t be spinning off the production version of the ID.Every1 to Skoda, Swat or Cupra. It feels a base car is essential in a market that’s under threat from the Chinese.

Speaking to Auto Express, Volkswagen’s Kai Grünitz said: “It is necessary to have an entry vehicle.

The rear of the Lupo with taillights similar in shape to headlights.

“I”f we don’t do that, there will be the Chinese doing that. And if the first users…. jump into a Chinese brand, they might stay with a Chinese brand.”

He admitted that building a small car on a shoestring wasn’t easy when it is designed, engineered, built and sold in Europe. “That’s really challenging,” he said.

Lupo interior with squared off wheel and lots of physical buttons.

Since the Up! and Citigo were launched in 2011, the small car (A-segment) has collapsed. Manufacturers are struggling to turn a profit with city cars, especially with electrification underway.

Asked why Cupra, Seat and Skoda wouldn’t get their version of the city car, Grunitz simply replied that the segment is not big enough to support three brands.

Simple cute looks for VW's new electric city car.

With just Volkswagen in the segment, we’ll do the volume we did with up!, Mii (Seat) and with Citigo”, Grunitz said. We want this to be another people’s car, he added.

Whether or not it takes the ID. Lupo name is unclear because it hasn’t been used in decades. But given Polo, Golf and Tiguan are making comebacks, don’t be surprised to see Lupo join the ID line-up.