Volkswagen Fox

The Volkswagen Fox is a subcompact car produced and designed by Volkswagen of Brazil and sold in Latin America from 2003 until 2021<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Dead: The Cutest Hatch From South America, The Volkswagen Fox - José Rodríguez Jr., Jalopnik, 12 October 2021</ref> and in Europe from 2005 until 2011,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> where it was sold as the city car offering. The Fox was produced as a 3-door and 5-door hatchback. There is also a mini SUV version called Fox Xtreme (previously CrossFox) and a mini MPV/station wagon model called Suran, SpaceFox, SportVan or Fox Plus depending on the market.

Earlier use of the nameplate

Volkswagen acquired the rights to the name in 1969, by purchasing NSU. The original NSU Fox was a motorbike first seen in 1949,<ref name=AutoMotoruSport199613>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and Volkswagen had subsequently used the "Fox" name in some markets for special edition Volkswagen Polos. The Audi 80 produced in the 1970s also used the name Fox on vehicles sold in Australia and the United States. The Australian version was assembled locally by Volkswagen Australasia Ltd.

North America (1987–1993)

Template:See also The Fox was a variant of the Voyage manufactured by Volkswagen do Brasil and marketed by Volkswagen in North America as an entry-level subcompact from 1987 until 1993 — VW's response to an expanding market for entry-level subcompacts, such as the Yugo and the Hyundai Excel. Initially offered as a 2-door and 4-door sedan as well as a 2-door wagon, the wagon was discontinued in 1991 along with the 2-door for the Canadian market, the same year the 4-door sedan (as well as the 2-door, in the United States) received a mild restyling.

North American market Volkswagen Fox GL 4-door sedan

The Fox featured a longitudinal mounted 1.8L, Template:Convert 4-cylinder petrol engine, sharing components with the Volkswagen Golf — along with a 4-speed manual transmission for the standard 2-door and 4-door sedan and a 5-speed manual transmission for the "GL" sport model. — An automatic transmission was not offered, nor was power steering or anti-lock braking. The Fox had power assisted disk brakes in the front and drums in the rear.

According to the U.S. EPA, the 4-speed manual transmission averaged Template:Convert on the new combined driving cycle with the 5-speed manual transmission able to produce Template:Convert on the new driving cycle. Under the old test protocol, the Volkswagen Fox was able to produce Template:Convert with the 5-speed transmission and Template:Convert with the 4-speed transmission.

Early models (1987–1989) featured the Bosch CIS-E also known as KE-Jetronic electro mechanical fuel injection, using an oxygen sensor to assist in fuel management. Later models featured (1990–1993) Bosch Digifant electronic fuel injection. In Canada, the Fox from 1987 to 1989 was offered with the simpler Bosch CIS fuel injection (K-Jetronic) without an oxygen sensor for the engine fuel management system.

Due partly to booming sales of the Passat, Jetta, Golf and the price of the Fox compared to its competition, sales dwindled, particularly the facelifted (1990–1993) models. Volkswagen also priced the car very low, to compensate for the ever more expensive German-made cars, and Volkswagen of America lost money on every Fox sold in the early years.<ref name=Wards89211>Template:Cite book</ref>

Originally, the Fox's squared off front end featured sealed beam halogen headlamps; after 1991 models received revised sheet metal with flush glass headlamps (MK2).

South Africa

In South Africa, the Fox name was used for a model based on the first generation Jetta.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> This was sold alongside the Volkswagen Citi Golf, based on the first generation Golf.

Overview

Latin America

In Latin America, the Fox was positioned between Volkswagen's supermini models, the low cost Gol and the Polo. It was based on the fourth-generation Polo.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

In Mexico, it was called the Lupo, due to the last name of then current President Vicente Fox. Volkswagen 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 was also quietly discontinued in Mexico in February 2010 due to poor sales, leaving only the CrossFox.

In October 2009, the new 2010 Volkswagen Fox was revealed in Brazil and later also in Argentina.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The model was restyled again in 2014.

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  2005 Volkswagen Fox (3-door)
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  2007 Volkswagen Fox (5-door)
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  2007 Volkswagen Fox Total Flex (5-door)
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  2015 Volkswagen Fox
• 
  2015 Volkswagen Fox

Safety

The Fox in its most basic Latin American market configuration received 4 stars for adult occupants and 2 stars for infants from Latin NCAP 1.0 in 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Europe

Pre-facelift Volkswagen Fox 1.4

Interior

The Fox was introduced to Europe at the AMI Leipzig Motor Show in April 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 75 hp engine is all-new, and the two others are inherited from the Polo.<ref name=":0" />

It has a drag coefficient of 0,32.<ref name=":0" />

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the European market, the Fox replaced the Lupo city car as the entry-level car in the lineup. Volkswagen stopped selling the Fox in Europe in 2011 and it was replaced by the Volkswagen Up until it was discontinued in 2023.<ref name="Model Changes">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Like the contemporary Polo, the Fox is based on Volkswagen's PQ24 platform.

Specifications

Model	Engine	Displacement	Power	Torque
colspan=6 Template:Rh |Petrol engines
1.2	I3	1198 cc	Template:Convert at 4750 rpm	Template:Convert at 3000 rpm
1.4 BKR	I4	1390 cc	Template:Convert at 5000 rpm	Template:Convert at 2750 rpm
colspan=6 Template:Rh |Diesel engines
1.4 TDI	I3	1422 cc	Template:Convert at 4000 rpm	Template:Convert at 1600–2800 rpm

Variants

CrossFox/Fox Xtreme

Volkswagen CrossFox

The Volkswagen Fox Xtreme is an adventure version which sets it apart from the standard Fox. Before 2017 it was known as the CrossFox. As is the case for other similar models, it is available only with front-wheel drive.

It is produced in Brazil and sold in Latin American markets; there were plans to export it to European markets to compete in the adventure hatchbacks market (see Toyota Etios Cross and Dacia Sandero Stepway) and Hyundai HB20XTemplate:Citation needed.

This version contains mixed-use tires and a suspension raised slightly beyond a spare tire on the outside of the trunk.

Template:AnchorSuran

A mini MPV/station wagon version of the Fox was presented in April 2006. It is named Suran in Argentina,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Chile,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Egypt, and Uruguay,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> SpaceFox in Brazil,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ecuador,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bolivia<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Peru,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> SportVan in Mexico<ref>[1] Template:Webarchive</ref> and Fox Plus in Algeria.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> It is built in General Pacheco, Argentina.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Because of its 360 mm-extended tail (4,165 mm vs. 3,805 mm), it has a larger boot and more rear leg room than the hatchback versions. Its main competitors are the Peugeot 206 SW and Fiat Palio Weekend.

The initial version has the same wheelbase of Template:Convert, a length of Template:Convert, a width of Template:Convert and a height of Template:Convert.<ref name=":1" /> It uses the 1.6-litre engine, with power output levels ranging between Template:Convert, depending on the fuel version (petrol or blend of ethanol and petrol).

In 2010 and 2015, it was facelifted, gaining slightly enlarged dimensions: Template:Convert in length, Template:Convert in width and Template:Convert in height. It was discontinued at the beginning of 2019.<ref name=":9">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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  2009 Volkswagen Suran (pre-facelift)
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  Volkswagen SpaceFox (pre-facelift)
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  2011 Volkswagen Suran (first facelift)
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  2010 Volkswagen Suran (first facelift)
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  2016 Volkswagen Suran (second facelift)
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  Volkswagen SpaceCross
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  2012 Volkswagen Suran Cross

Safety

The Suran in its most basic Latin American market configuration with 2 airbags and no ESC received 3 stars for adult occupants and 3 stars for infants from Latin NCAP 2.0 in 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sales

Year	Global production		Brazil sales
	Fox	Suran	Fox	SpaceFox
2003			6,000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:N/a
2004			54,383<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:N/a
2005			94,962<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:N/a
2006			107,600<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	11,903<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2007	206,125<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref>	45,690<ref name=":2" />	126,291<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	27,611<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2008	170,596<ref name=":2" />	52,600<ref name=":2" />	115,072<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	22,221<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2009	176,114<ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref>	44,936<ref name=":3" />	129,199<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	31,915<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2010	194,393<ref name=":3" />	40,981<ref name=":3" />	143,564<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	18,212<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2011	160,751<ref name=":4">Template:Cite news</ref>	48,473<ref name=":4" />	121,594<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	22,122<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2012	197,823<ref name=":4" />	37,602<ref name=":4" />	167,708<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	26,866<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2013	164,763<ref name=":5">Template:Cite news</ref>	39,674<ref name=":5" />	129,939<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	20,309<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2014	106,991<ref name=":5" />	23,332<ref name=":5" />	101,340<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	19,282<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2015	85,161<ref name=":6">Template:Cite news</ref>	24,691<ref name=":6" />	79,204<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	6,906<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2016	50,273<ref name=":6" />	20,163<ref name=":6" />	43,730<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	2,501<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2017	50,739<ref name=":7">Template:Cite news</ref>	21,093<ref name=":7" />	42,719<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	2,085<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2018	40,596<ref name=":7" />	16,356<ref name=":7" />	39,262<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	5,573<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2019	43,675<ref name=":9" />	600<ref name=":9" />	38,487<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	1,750<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2020	12,184<ref name=":8">Template:Cite news</ref>		20,383<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	6<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2021	18,162<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>		17,946<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	4<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2022			63<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:N/a
2023			5<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:N/a

External links

• Official VW Brazil Fox website Template:Webarchive