Let’s drive

Let’s drive

Of course, this raises the question, where do you go with such an emotional fire cracker? Your best bet is the mountains, there, where you can celebrate driving a car for its own sake. The pleasure of smart motion, the joy of an elegant swing, the kick of a perfectly measured pursuit curve.

The foothills of the Austrian Alps are a good place well away from the mainstream of tourists. The region begins west of the capital, Vienna, with the gently undulating hills of the Vienna Forest and rises towards the main Alpine ridge to the serious passes.

You can experience a region where the shortest distance between two points consists of three curves.

Sometimes four or even five. A special attraction called the “Kalte Kuchl” (Cold Kitchen) is a tarmacked roller coaster which will warm every driver’s heart. The up! GTI is absolutely in its element here, where it can show off all its dynamic capabilities.

Its agility is inherent in its design; the minimal overhangs make the wheels feel as if they were attached directly at the corners. After a few kilometres, you can completely forget that you are actually driving a modern entry-level car. In some situations, too much space can actually dampen the mood. All that counts here are the machine, the road and you. End of story.

The interaction between fantastic handling, a sitting position with an excellent view and the perky engine produces a driving experience almost as direct as riding a motorcycle – of course, without the danger of a fall. The ingenious ESP technology makes it possible.

The three-cylinder turbocharged engine makes a big contribution to the fun. The displacement dwarf (999 cc) reveals itself as a genuine torque monster in the mountains. Two hundred Newton-metres are available at 2000 rpm, which is to say, virtually always, and the compact up! is a doddle for them. As if pulled by an invisible rubber band, you zip up the gradients, and the six-speed gearbox shifts so smoothly that you gladly take every opportunity to enjoy the turbocharged thrust. With the excellent power-to-weight ratio, you never have the feeling that you have “only” 115 PS at your disposal.

Recommended break stations around Mariazell:

Erlebzelterei Pirker
Excellent gingerbread specialities near the Basilika Mariä Geburt (Basilica of St. Mary’s Birth)
Wiener Strasse 9, 8630 Mariazell

Lurgbauer
Gourmet restaurant in isolated forest, accessible only via gravel road
Lurg 1, 8630 St. Sebastian

Süßmeisterei Mahonie
Perfect not only for a coffee break
Hauptstrasse 42, 3193 St. Aegyd

Zum Blumentritt
The highest standard of traditional restaurant culture
Markt 20, 3193 St. Aegyd

Wuchtlwirtin
Earthy destination on the idyllic Hubertussee (Lake Hubertus) Fantastic desserts.
Walstern 18, 8630 Mariazell