VW upgrades the Up six times over (photos)

Not only did Volkswagen present a production version of the Up subcompact, it also unveiled six new concepts based on the Up's platform.

Starting with the standard Up, three engines will be available at launch. The first two are gasoline engines rated at 59 and 74 horsepower. The third is a compressed natural gas (CNG) engine that outputs 67 horsepower.

Those are small horsepower numbers all around, but remember that the Up is a tiny car. It's only about 11.6 feet from nose to tail and weighs just 2,048 pounds.

Start-stop technology, a five-speed automatic transmission, and general tininess help the Up achieve up to 50 mpg on the EU test cycle with its smaller gasoline engine.

When the Up goes on sale, it'll be at an MSRP of 9,850 euros (about $13,473).

However, VW didn't only announce the Up. It also showed off six more concepts that ranged from the mild to the wild.

A resident of the wild side, the Buggy Up is an homage to the dune buggies of old with its open-top design.

The ride height and overall height have been lowered from the production Up and the Buggy is wider and longer.

The Cross Up is about as much of a crossover as the Mini Countryman (which is to say, not much of one), but it does ride higher than the standard Up. Most interestingly, the Cross Up gains an extra set of doors to aid ingress into its expanded rear seat.

One of the most interesting Up variants is the E-Up, which, as you may be able to guess, is an all-electric concept.

Power is provided by an 18 kWh battery that sends energy to an electric motor with a peak output of 60 kW (continuous output is rated at about 54 horsepower).

Depending on the driver's right foot, the E-Up should be able to cruise for about 80 miles between charges.

The Eco Up is another green machine. This time it runs on EcoFuel, which is VW's cutesy term for natural gas. (Why they don't just call it natural gas is beyond me.)

Like the standard CNG fueled up, the Eco Up features start-stop technology. However, this concept only emits 79 g/km of CO2 and CNG fuel consumption drops from 3.2 kg/100km to 2.5 kg/100km.

The GT Up (Giddyup, get it?) is the Up concept for the enthusiast market. Not only does it weigh less (1,984 pounds), but it outputs more (100 horsepower).

Simple instrumentation puts the tachometer front and center in the GT Up's dashboard.

A dashboard-mounted iPhone supplies audio and telematics to the GT Up.

The power boost is provided by a turbocharged version of the standard Up's engine. This concept is meant to pay homage to the original Volkswagen GTI.

The last, and oddest, Up concept is the Up Arruzza Sailing Team. (Yes, even the name is odd.) This nautical-themed, open-top concept features wood trim contrasting with its white paint. Presumably, "I'm on a boat" is playing on a continuous loop from its audio system.