The ‘up!’ is finished in a wild off-roader taste
Remember the ‘up!’, the compact minimal car that Volkswagen launched in 2012? It has become a popular model alongside the VW Polo because of its easy handling. At the Osaka Auto Messe 2024 (OAM), ‘build.works’ from Okayama Prefecture presented a custom car with a wild off-roader taste based on the small but mighty “up!”.
The ride height is the same as stock!?
While it is said that “the royal road to customization of VW cars lies in lowering”, the ‘up!’ proposed by Buildworks is the so-called lifted-up style. As the name suggests, it was a fascinating customization with a joke about raising the ride height.
When we spoke to the representative, Mr Shiozato, he told us the following story.
“The ride height of this car is the same as the factory one. The custom paint and graphic wrapping, which is our specialty, and the inch-up tires and wheels create the illusion that the ride height has been increased.”
“The inner side of the wheel arches and the inner panel were painted to give the impression of an upstyle look and to make the clearance between the wings and tires look wider. As for the ride height, in fact, for everyday use, it is easier to get in and out of the car and more user-friendly in normal conditions.”
By the way, the idea of a wild offloader based on ‘up!’ is interesting. It’s a style that’s in vogue these days, so I’m curious to see the parts that will add to its brave and cool style.
A series of small fogs to increase the appeal of the car
Naturally, there is no such thing as ‘up!’ exclusive parts, so all parts are set with modifications to match the actual car. The grille guard, which emphasizes the wild look, is fitted with a Daihatsu Atrai, while the roof rack on the special carrier is shortened and mounted for the Suzuki Every, and a ladder for the Every is carried in the rear to enhance the outdoor feel.
As for additional parts, the items released for the light car in terms of dimensions were just right, and the recent off-road remake boom for light cars has helped in the off-road conversion, as there are various parts available.
Other off-road items that can’t be overlooked are the fog lights. There is a twist here too: all the fog lights fitted are a series of small fog lights. This was an ingenious way to increase the appeal of the vehicle, with two rather than one, or three rather than two, and also to match the compactness of the vehicle body.
The body color is matte Sanremo Green, a genuine BMW color. By not opting for a matte finish, the car is designed to be used actively in the field of outdoor fun.
The appeal of this ‘up!’ off-roader specification lies in the fact that it focuses on the most effective points in terms of attractiveness. The important thing is to enjoy the change of customization without spending as much money as possible. ‘Build.works’ has shown us this through the ‘up!’ customization technique.
translated by DeepL