Volkswagen Channels Meyers Manx With New Buggy Up!

For those in the know, the classic Meyers Manx really set the standard for true kit cars. Sure, Shelby Cobras and Lotus Super Seven replicas may still account for the vast majority of dollars spent on do-it-yourself automobiles, but it was the Manx that first earned respect as a unique automobile that managed to supplant the preconceived notions of its Volkswagen Beetle underpinnings and gain a reputation as a fun, carefree buggy. 

And as unlikely as it may be, Volkswagen certainly doesn't appear to be taking that reputation for granted with their latest Up! concept: the Buggy Up! One of a series of concepts showcasing Volkswagen's youthful side, the six Up! concepts demonstrate how flexible a single platform can be, with models ranging from a foor door CUV to this: a doorless, roofless, modern take on the Manx dune buggy. Powered by the same 74 horsepower engine as the rest of the Up! lineup (with the exception of the hybrid Eco Up! and electric e Up!  the Buggy Up! would certainly be a blast and a half, especially if Volkswagen kept the price point low. But as much as the Buggy Up! could provide the marketplace with a much needed open-air fun car that breaks from the sports car mold, don't hold your breath... we can only imagine what the crash tester would say if they saw this thing!