Volkswagen unveiled its third variation on the Up! concept car in as many months at the 2007 Los Angeles auto show. The four-door Space Up! Blue develops the Space Up! concept that debuted last month in Tokyo with the inclusion of a hydrogen fuel-cell power train as well as plug-in capabilities.
The Space Up! Blue pays homage to the 1950's VW Samba Bus in its exterior styling. While its shape my be retro, its drive train is far more futuristic: according to VW, the Space Up! Blue features the world's first high-temperature fuel cell, which can operate in temperatures up to 160 degrees Celsius. This is in contrast to many other fuel cells that have to operate within strict temperature ranges.
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The front of the Space Up Blue features diagonal headlights either side of horizontal air inlets. Thanks to the higher operating temperature of the car's fuel cell, its onboard cooling systems can be simpler, and therefore lighter.
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Like the Space Up! that debuted in Tokyo, the Blue version of the microvan features side- and rear butterfly doors.
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Inside, a 7-inch touch screen display with a built -in proximity sensor enables drivers to control all onboard systems (such as navigation, hands-free calling, and audio control) using gestures.
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The Space Up! Blue features a solar panel on its roof, which supplies up to 150 watts of power to the car's lithium-ion battery pack. Alternatively, the battery pack can be charged by plugging the car into a standard electrical outlet. The Space Up! Blue can travel up to 65 miles on one full charge, according to Volkswagen.
