Volkswagen Spices Up, Saveiro Pepper In Brazil

Familiar as we are with the models that Volkswagen sells in America and in Europe, the German automaker has a whole range of vehicles dedicated to the Brazilian market. And it's spicing up a few of them with the launch of new Pepper models.

Following the lead set by the Fox Pepper, VW is now launching similar treatments in the forms of the Up! Pepper and Saveiro Pepper, all with visual enhancements that make them look more like GTIs, and extra equipment bundled into the package as well.

The Up! Pepper, for example, features gloss black roof, side skirts, and rear spoiler, along with 15-inch dark diamond-finish alloys, and a red-trimmed chrome grille. The special-edition city car available in white, silver, red, or black, with red mirrors (or black on the red version), special badges, and a sportier interior with black trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and red-accented shifter and air vents.

The Saveiro pickup adopts a similar treatment, augmented by black wheel arches and other trim upgrades from the rugged Cross model. And the Fox Pepper that started it all has been updated for 2018 as well with similar trim and equipment.

The Up! Pepper comes with the 1.0-liter TSI engine rated at 105 horsepower with a five-speed manual. The Saveiro Pepper, available in extended or double-cab forms, packs a similar output from a 1.6-liter engine, also mated to a five-speed manual, while the Fox Pepper's 1.6 offers a more prodigious 120 hp and a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.