Volkswagen SpaceFox

The Volkswagen Fox is a city car produced and designed by Volkswagen do Brasil and sold in Latin America since 2004 and Europe since 2005. Currently the Fox is produced as a three-door and five-door hatchback. There is also a mini SUV version called CrossFox, and a mini MPV/station wagon model called Suran, SpaceFox, SportVan or Fox Plus depending on the market.

In South America, it fits between its two supermini brothers, the low cost Gol and the Polo. In Mexico it was called the Lupo, due to the last name of then-current President Vicente Fox. VW of Mexico dropped the Lupo after a short run of 2009 models due to poor sales and replaced it along with the aged Pointer and Derby by the VW Novo Gol. The SportVan has also been quietly discontinued starting February 2010 in Mexico due to poor sales leaving only the CrossFox.

In the European market, the Fox replaced the Lupo city car as the entry-level car in the lineup and at a far cheaper price.

Like the contemporary Polo, the Fox is based on Volkswagen's PQ24 platform.

Volkswagen acquired the rights to the "Fox" name in 1969 by purchasing NSU. The original NSU Fox was a motor-bike first seen in 1949,^[1] and Volkswagen had subsequently used the "Fox" name in some markets for special edition Volkswagen Polos. The Audi 80 produced in the seventie's also used the name Fox on vehicles sold in Australia and the USA.

Facts

• The roof liner and rear parcel shelf are made from the renewable resourced Curaua plant.
• The European-market Fox has a four-star EuroNCAP safety rating.
• The static torsional stiffness of the Fox is 17941 Nm and has a dynamic torsional stiffness of 39.2 Hz.
• An optional rear bench seat slides 150 mm lengthways and the backrest can split 50/50 in the middle, depending on the configuration, the boot volume is adjustable between 260 and 1016 L.
• Volkswagen recalled over 400,000 units in Latin America and Africa due to a problem with the rear seat longitudinal adjustment mechanism after eight Brazilian owners lost part of their fingers while trying to adjust the seats.^[2]

South American Fox 1.6 specifications

• Engine: EA111, BAH; 8V, 1599 cc, cast iron cylinder head, RSH (roller rocker arm)
• Power: 101 hp (74 kW) @ 5750 rpm
• Fuel Injection: Motronic (Benzin ME7.5.10 until 2006)
• Torque: 140 N•m (100 ft•lbf) @ 3250 rpm
• 0-100 km/h: 10.5 s
• Top Speed: 170 km/h (110 mph)
• Boot: 260 L (9.2 cu ft)-1,236 L (43.6 cu ft)
• Transmission: 5-speed manual (Audi MQ200 manual gearbox)
• Fuel capacity: 50 L (13.2 US gal; 11.0 imp gal)

The Braking system is similar to the Audi A3(non-turbo), Front rotors. Rear still Drums.

In Europe

The Fox was introduced to Europe at the AMI Leipzig Motor Show in 2005, on debut in Europe the Fox was only available as a three-door hatchback and with three engine options: the 1.2 L 40 kW (55 hp) I3 and 1.4 L 55 kW (75 hp) I4 petrol engines and the 1.4 L 51 kW (69 hp) TDI engine.

The Fox was sold with a long options list to reduce its tag price, therefore letting the European customer specify the Fox to their liking. It did come with standard twin airbags and anti-lock braking system for safety measures. Upon its debut the Fox scored four stars in EuroNCAP's crash rating system.

Petrol

Diesel

Options

• Alloy Wheels
• Electronic pack with electric windows and mirrors
• Sunroof
• ESP with electronic differential lock and traction control system
• Front and side airbags
• Semi climatic air conditioner law
• CD player

The price in Germany is 8.950,00 €.^[3]

Volkswagen CrossFox

The Volkswagen CrossFox is a mini SUV version which sets it apart from the standard Fox. As is the case for other similar models, it is only available with front-wheel drive.

It is produced in Brazil and sold in Latin American markets; there are plans to export it to European markets to compete in the expanding mini SUV market (see Ford EcoSport and Fiat Idea Adventure).

Volkswagen Suran/SpaceFox/SportVan/Fox Plus

A mini MPV/station wagon version of the Fox was presented in April 2006. It is named Suran in Argentina [1], Chile and Uruguay, SpaceFox in Brazil [2] and Peru [3], SportVan in Mexico [4] and Fox Plus in Algeria [5]. It is built in General Pacheco, Argentina.

Because of its 360 mm-extended tail (4165 mm vs. 3805 mm), it has a larger boot and more rear leg room than the hatchback versions. Its main competitors are the Peugeot 206 SW, Fiat Idea and Opel Meriva.

Other Volkswagen Fox models

Fox and Fox Wagon was also the name of a subcompact sedan and station wagon built by Volkswagen do Brazil and sold by Volkswagen in North America as an entry level model. It was a North American version of the Gol range, produced in the late 1980s and early 1990s in Brazil. It was a design unique to South America, although it bore a family resemblance to the Volkswagen Jetta. After 1990 the Wagon was discontinued from the North American market; it was the last two-door wagon offered in the US. However, the Fox sedan and coupe lasted until 1993 in the US. Early models (1987•1989) feature Bosch Jetronic electro-mechanical fuel injection known as CIS-E. The CIS-E system used an Oxygen sensor to assist in fuel management to meet emissions requirements. VW offered a standard 2 and 4 door sedan with a 4 speed transmission and a "GL" sport model with a 5 speed transmission. In Canada the Fox from 1987-1989 was offered with the simpler Bosch CIS fuel injection system. The CIS injection system did not utilize an Oxygen sensor as part of an engine fuel management system. The Fox sported a longitudinal mounted 1.8L, 81 hp (DIN) engine, sharing components with the VW Golf of the era. VW never offered the Fox of this generation with an automatic transmission in the North American market. The Fox had a squared off front end with rectangular sealed beam halogen headlamps, while the final U.S. version (1990•1993) had Bosch Digifant electronic fuel injection and a more modern styled front end with glass headlamps. Volkswagen did not sell any subcompact cars in Canada until 2007, when the Volkswagen City Golf and Volkswagen City Jetta began sales.

In South Africa, the Volkswagen Fox was a model based on the original Jetta, but featuring the front end of the Citi, a facelifted version of the original Golf Mk 1, which was in production in South Africa until late 2009.

In the United States and Australia the Audi 80 was badged as the Audi Fox during the 1970s. The Australian version was assembled locally by Volkswagen Australasia Ltd.

References

1. ^ "Not und Spiele: Die 50er Jahre...". Auto Motor u. Sport Heft 13 1996: Seite 58-65. date 14 June 1996.
2. ^ "Volkswagen do Brasil recall website (in Portuguese)". http://www.vwbr.com.br/bancodofox/.
3. ^ VW: Fox kostet ab 8.950 Euro

External links

• Official VW Fox website

Categories: Volkswagen vehicles | Euro NCAP superminis | Cars of Brazil | 2000s automobiles | Vehicles introduced in 2004 | City cars | Hatchbacks