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VW working on new 'two-liter' microcar

 
3 4,774 views Dec 17, 2008

volkswagen up concept motorauthority 001

volkswagen two liter rendering 001

volkswagen two liter rendering 001

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More than a year ago, Volkswagen announced it was working on a project to bring its 1-Liter concept from 2002 to production reality. The three-wheeled low-slung extremely aerodynamic design still seems a bit unrealistic, but now VW is thought to be building a slightly larger, more functional city car that's shooting for the 2L/100km (117.6mpg) fuel efficiency mark.

The new '2-Liter' car is expected to be based on a shorter version of the up! (concept pictured) that will be going into production next year, reports Auto Motor & Sport. Targeting competition like the Smart ForTwo and Toyota's new iQ minicar, the 2-Liter will be a more realistic goal for production, and should come sooner than the 1-Liter, though that tandem-seated hyper-efficient vehicle could enter production as early as 2010.

VW has already hinted that a more utilitarian fuel-focused vehicle might hit the streets in the interim, though at the time in 2007, Volkswagen’s Chairman Ferdinand Piëch framed it as a 3L/100km (78.4mpg) car based around the Lupo.

Like the 1-Liter, the 2-Liter is expected to use diesel as its fuel since it's the most energy-dense of the readily available fuels in use today. A small displacement three-cylinder car, around 1L in size, will likely get the nod. Two-cylinders are in development but unlikely for use due to their high-revving nature in a vehicular application - the rougher, noisier operation doesn't result in any improvements in fuel economy.

Though it's still too early for firm numbers, power output is expected to lie in the 50hp (44kW) range, putting it squarely in the fight with its minicar companions.
2007 Volkswagen up! concept
Volkswagen 'two-liter' preview

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HI-RES GALLERY: volkswagen two liter rendering 001




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Comments (3)

  1. ma_danDAN avatar danDAN Posted: 11/7/2008 5:35am PST

    for the person who is never in a hurry...EVER. And doesn't want to go fast...even when they're going to be late.


    Imagine at the launch it turns up half an hour late as they prove it can drive 100km and use 2ltr of fuel the CEO will say "better green than never"
     
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  2. ma_johnceberhardt avatar johnceberhardt Posted: 11/11/2008 10:41pm PST

    When you consider that India and China will be using most, if not all of the oil produced in the world in the not too distant future, these two cars are really good step in the right direction. The fossil fuel supply crisis will only end when all of the fossil fuel supplies are gone.

    The one liter three wheeled car would be classified as a motorcycle and therefore would be a lot cheaper to insure and drive.

    I’ve been driving my VW beetle TDI since 1999 when I bought it new. Diesel cost a lot less per gallon than regular gas until 2004 and I’ve always gotten in the upper forties MPG (combined city and highway driving). Lately I’ve been going a little slower and I’ve been getting over 55 miles per gallon. I can drive over 800 miles on each tank of fuel. The car’s a great car. It is not a tiny car and has good pickup with the stick. I can haul my wife and kids and luggage and be quite comfortable at the same time.

    Even though all these new ones are a bit smaller, since most of my driving is to work in back or for errands, either one would be just fine for me. I just hope they actually make them available to us (and not for everyone else but us).

    JCE
    http://johnceberhardt.wordpress.com/
     
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  3. ma_mr2mk1 avatar mr2mk1 Posted: 12/18/2008 6:19pm PST

    This is what the Europeans have known for Decades. When fuel is expensive & space is at a premium we should all be driving sensible cars at sensible speeds. The lower operating cost & cleaner burning are just Bonuses that will benefit everyone whether you are a Driver or Non Driver. Great Deal VW! Bring on the 100 mpg cars!
     
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