Discussing the car's sales potential last year, Winterkorn stressed that the 1-Liter “would not be a best seller” and thus will only be produced in limited numbers. Its body will be constructed from carbon fiber, plastic and magnesium. Top speed with the one-cylinder 0.3L engine of the 2002 1-Liter concept was expected to be around 120km/h with average fuel consumption around the 1L/100km mark (235mpg). Those numbers aren't expected to change much with the shift to the diesel hybrid design. The change is expected to add drivability and low-end acceleration to the car, although its lightweight will also make easy work for even the small engine and motor combination.
The vehicle's weight is estimated to be a mere 300kg (660lb) thanks to its small size, tandem seating configuration and lightweight construction. That would make the car a very difficult structure to secure in the event of an accident, especially with the panoramic fighter-jet style canopy over the occupants and the very low profile of the car. VW seems confident that it can get the car produced and certified for on-road use, however.
Pricing is expected to fall somewhere between €20,000 and €30,000 ($31,400 to $47,100). Assembly is tipped to take place in VW's prototype shop, which can produce 1,000 cars per year at full tilt, reports CAR.
The version from 2002 ended up doing even better than its target fuel efficiency, requiring just 0.89L/100km (achieving 264mpg). Whether the new diesel hybrid will achieve similar results remains to be seen. Click here to read our previous story on the VW 1-Liter.
Reader Comments
Tue Oct 9 2007 2:53 PM
kafkef says
1 L/100 KM.. holy crap
Tue Oct 9 2007 9:02 PM
Gus says
That is impressive.
But how light will this thing have to be? I just can't imagine driving a featherwieght car like that.
Sun Jan 13 2008 2:17 PM
Ben Brown says
Strange, my neighbor never thinks about how light his motorcycle is or his tiny sports car that costs outside of my imagination, but requires an intravenous line to the Middle East oil fields (supplied by the neighbor on the other side's son serving overseas.)
Personally, I like the tandem VW, but especially if its comparative mileage is as high as the original. I'd love to see it as a BEV only vehicle or even an air car. (We have plenty of wind power to charge or pressurized vehicles in the upper midwest.) To reduce the cost if they choose to go electric, they could use the Firefly foam lead batteries, which weigh 1/3 the weight of a regular lead acid and has been proven to perform as well as lithium. If I need to take the family, which I never do on my daily work commute, I'd rent AC Propulsion's ebox van. (which you should read about before you comment.) If the ebox used Firefly batteries it would be cheaper too!
Sun May 11 2008 12:22 PM
ron says
does anyone get it. once this comes out, the gas could get 100 per gallon. the gasoline companies are not going to lose money.does any one remember in the 60's when vw made the bug it got 50 mpg. the tech. was always out there.it is all about the money
Mon Jun 16 2008 5:50 PM
Alan says
Ron has hit the nail on the head. The gas companies need to keep the investment community happy so profits need to stay high. they have set the mark today and if users consume less gas the prices will need to go up. It's a vicious circle and the consumer will loose in the end no matter what. At some point the gas companies need to be regulated again ... it's clear they aren't serving the best interest of the people so long as they have to keep their stock prices up.
Mon Jun 23 2008 1:53 AM
Kevin says
Yes, a 235 mpg car will be a good buy. The car is not practical for a family, however. Hopefully this car makes it over to the USA. For those who need a commuter car.
Fri Jul 4 2008 7:55 AM
BAUMM III says
Very nice indeed, but why diesel? It smell, it's noisy, it's vibrating a lot.
OK it's 20% more efficient, but who care to have a 240 or 200 MPG car?
Also, gasoline engine can be convert to CNG to be even less noisy, or vibrating and no smell at all.
Here in Europe we have 75% Diesel car (it start to be a nightmare) and a gallon of Diesel cost nearly the same as Gasoline, same in US, no?
Anyway all the disadvantaged of the Diesel to only save one Dollars every 200 mile is a no sense
Fri Jul 4 2008 6:46 PM
MARIO says
WOW ! Great mileage. But, it doesn't look like a very practical car for a small family.
The concept is good though. C'mon VW, get with the program. Make something we
can utilize not just fantasize...
Sat Jul 5 2008 1:07 AM
Renton says
WANT!
Piech is going to launch a motorcycle division as well.
Mario: this car is a good publicity move for acceptance of more practical high efficiency vehicles.
This kind of car is ultra important.
Thu Jul 10 2008 3:55 PM
Randy says
I'll be looking at converting the 1-Liter to all electric. The heck with the oil companies.
Sat Jul 12 2008 11:33 PM
Mark says
Mario,
Think outside the econobox. Almost every fuel-efficient car (here in the States, as well as Europe) is a four seater, four cylinder econobox. You have plenty of blandness to choose from. These are fine for a small family.
Often the head of household will have a long commute. Why not let the commuting spouse use this fuel efficient car, saving the family money?
Wed Jul 16 2008 5:03 AM
mosp says
comoooooon people, here we are talking about a car for going to work, not family car.
why do we need 4 seaters, when only one person drives to work. for weekend you get minivan . every family drive a bigger one. for recreation you get SUV. i don't think a family has only 1 car.
this tandem is perfect. i want it and want it now. the only i wish for is low price. please don't sell
it more than 15-18 K
Wed Jul 16 2008 1:28 PM
Mike says
96% of the time there is only one person in this car. what's so wrong with everyone having a cheap method of transportation where there doesn't exist a viable public option?
it'll take some time to get there, but this "car" really needs to sell for no more than $8,000 USD
Thu Jul 17 2008 6:22 PM
Matt says
They will sell like hotcakes at 30k/car. Super-mileage cars are all the trend right now. It will take a good decade or more for hybrids/electric cars to come down in price. That will only happen once the high mileage standard is set for a while. 2010 is the year this will start.
Fri Jul 18 2008 12:32 AM
mosp says
if some1 doesn't like it, that's OK. just don't buy it, but how about us, who want it.
Wed Jul 30 2008 4:56 PM
Jason says
I don't care if I'm saving the earth and my wallet, I'm not driving the wiener mobile.
Sat Aug 2 2008 3:48 AM
chris says
This is a great plan vw. Can I ask if there are any 2 cycle engines coming or the 1966 turbine engine chyrsler experimented with. Uses any fuel you put in it. Anybody working on those designs. Just wanted to throw that into computer space.Hey everyone we need any and every solution to clean up earth. Before we choke to death!!!!!!!
Mon Aug 4 2008 12:36 AM
Jommy Techno says
The naysayers don't get it. A diesel electric is good. A 666-pound car gets extraordinary mileage, because it weighs what a heavy motorcycle would, but has a fraction of the wind resistance of a motorctcle. And the Diesel is designed for economy not power, and the hybrid will add 15%+ to that. And the right transmission will add 20-25% to that. I don't calc how they get to 235 MPG, but I can see where 120 mpg is possible.
In some states an ultralight car is classified as a motorcycle if it weighs 999 lbs or less. It would not have to meet federal safety standards for cars.
Mon Sep 8 2008 6:48 PM
Ray says
The math is simple...convert 100 kilometers to miles (62.13) and convert liters to gallons (1 gallon = 3.785 liters) then they state .89 liters/100Km. So... 235 MPG.
No one seems to be working on turbine powered cars since Chrysler gave it up. The exhaust was a problem...not to mention, where do you take it to get it worked on? I am an A&P aircraft mechanic, and turbines are WAY diferent than piston engines.
I doubt that anyone is working on 2 stroke engines...they would never pass emmissions...hence California has banned the sale of new ones.
Jommy, good point about the motorcycle classification. That would be great if they could get them into the US that way!
Wed Jun 10 2009 9:29 PM
alanjones10 says
WOW!!! Please please please... sell it in California, USA.
I will buy one for sure! Maybe 2 of them.
I don't care for diesel, I would prefer either just gas or a hybrid, but I will take it in any form.
I communte 110 Miles each day. Even my so-called high-mileage car is making me broke.
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