The Volkswagen Buggy Up! concept was recently granted a design patent in the United States which has spurred speculation about a production model.

Nothing is official, but Autocar says several sources have confirmed the company is conducting research to determine whether a production version is feasible. This seems plausible as Volkswagen hinted “the New Small Family is just beginning to grow …” when they introduced the concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

As we have previously reported, the Buggy Up! concept was a retro roadster that drew inspiration from the 1960’s Meyers Manx. It featured an open cockpit with a waterproof interior that had seating for two.