Volkswagen to produce 1-Liter car in 2010, should get over 200MPG
By Darren Murph 
posted May 9th 2008 9:18AM
posted May 9th 2008 9:18AM
[Via EcoGeek, thanks Yossi]
posted May 9th 2008 9:18AM
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Das.... Auto?
And you spell litre how?
It looks a lot like a Messerschmidt;
http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&channel=s&rls=org.mozilla%3Anl%3Aofficial&q=messerschmidt+car&btnG=Search+Images
@mymaclife:
Silly Americans, can't even spell the word "colour"
Come on Engadget.... Read the article.... and get it right!
"..its power source will be a one-cylinder engine displacing just 0.3L. Top speed will be 120km/h and consumption will fall around the 1L/100km mark (235mpg), reports AFX."
So much for 1 litre...
...and i bet it goes from 0-60 in 60 seconds!
Now that I will buy.
I totally agree. Very reminiscent of an early Porsche, but w/o a back seat (& a wonky passenger one) I can't do more than look.
@Anthony:
You do realise that a third of Porsche is owned by Volkswagen?
It's like staring at the 1950s and what they thought the 90s would look like.
Seriously, and who would have thought it was going to be fuel economy that would give us such strange looking cars.
Why do companies like VW even waste their time on this kind of concept? Isn't it well proven that with a aerodynamic design, tiny engine and light weight materials you can get 200+ MPG? We need usable cars that can get to 100, 200, 300 MPG, not underpowered sportster styled cars.
If, however, this is a stepping stone for bigger and better and more fuel efficient designs from VW, I'm all for it. But why try to productize it when it's clearly not ready?
Don't be a debby downer.
Please tell me how this car is unusable?
Your reply better not be "it's not an SUV."
What regularly mass produed car gets 200 MPG?
Now granted, a concept is nice, but I will get excited when it is available for a reasonable purchase.
M
1 liter isn't underpowered. There are loads of 1, 1.1 and 1.2 liter cars in the UK. They're nice and nippy and cheap to run/insure with lower road tax. I think they're great.
umm this isnt a concept car, they say its going to be available in limited numbers. which i have to say is disappointing but still you will be able to buy one. (maybe if your lucky)
My VW right now is 1.8 litres...
It's not skimpy whatsoever...
The Smart fortwo is only 1 litre too...
235 mpg is quite a claim though...
@Bakari
at least it's not an SUV.
Hah, it's all fine sticking a small engine into a ugly small car, but what happens when you wish to accelerate out of a crash-to-be for example? There wouldn't enough torque or acceleration, unless it has some crazy gearing numbers and/or really low weight.
When does accelerating -ever- get you out of a crash?
When you can overtake the idiots that are about to have an accident
Really? Accelerate out of a crash? I saw that in a James Bond movie a few times - featuring lots of cutaways and really cool music in the background, but in real life, you go "yikes" and BAM you're in it.
That's odd....I have avoided at least 3 accidents (none would have been my fault) because I was able to accelerate away from the other cars.
Of course, I do pay attention when I drive and I do not text while driving.
I personally accelerated out of crash just two weeks ago.
I was in the left lane passing two semi-tractor trailers. Something fell off of a car in front of the first semi and he locked up his brakes. I braked as well because it was unclear if the debris might also come into my lane. The second semi swerved into the lane behind me to avoid the first one and was bearing down on me fast. I got off the brakes and nailed the accelerator to pull away from the second semi (which obviously could not brake as hard as I had been just moments before).
Brian,
I'm texting and driving right now, you dont see me getting into an accide
I've accelerated out of a crash before. But usually the people pissing and moaning about small cars like this having no power or safety are the same people who buy a huge SUV because they think it keeps them safe from their own crappy driving.
Nevermind that most SUVs probably couldn't out-accelerate this thing, and they're CERTAINLY more lethargic. Nothing like missing a light because a line of clumsy, lumbering dinosaurs in front of you could barely get rolling before the light turned.
"Although you can definitely pre-order an Aptera if you're okay with space-aged design"
Space-aged design? We've been in the space age for 50 years. I think you're referring to the 50's (and prior) designs that speculated as to what space-age design would look like. A Hummer or a Prius may not look like a Flash Gordon Rocketship, but they're still space-aged design.
"A Hummer or a Prius may not look like a Flash Gordon Rocketship, but they're still space-aged design."
And they're both almost as ugly as this thing.
Seriously, if they want people to buy these things quit making them so ugly. Of course I agree that they may do this on purpose like one of the others have said just to be able to say that they tried to make a more fuel efficient vehicle but no one bought it.
At $6/gallon this would save me $400/month in gas, so as long as the payment is under that it’s a free car.
"1-Liter car" in this case has the meaning that it needs 1 liter of gasoline for 100 km. So saying a 1-Liter car should get around 235 MPG is not really additional information. Non-metric units :P
Doesn't 1 litre means it's a 1L engine?
In any case, I don't understand why it's so hard to take (for example in VW's case) something like Golf and just optimize it for better fuel consumption, whether it's by putting 1L engine, or by making it hybrid, or whatever else - why is every hybrid/electric/low-mileage car has to have some quirky and weird design? I'm all for interesting innovative designs (I actually think that in general cars look too similar) but when you're trying to bring new technology to the people you gotta put it in a familiar package - otherwise it's too much, too new, too fast. Use what works and what people like and you'll have easier time selling it, speaking of which...
What's with the limited production? If car companies are not willing to commit to fuel-saving cars then the people will never adopt them. Again, just stick this 1L engine in a golf and start producing them just like you do the golf - you might loose a few million on low sales for the first couple of batches but eventually it'll catch on.
This whole transition to hybrids and electrics and the like is way too slow, much slower than what the tech allows it. And why is that, 'cos the CEOs of these car companies are afraid that taking some risk might cost them their private jets. Idiots!
1 Liter = 0.2641721 (US) Gallons. 100 km = 62.13 miles. 100 km/L = ~235 mi/ga. So yes it is informative since they (and I) did the conversion for you.
Actually believe it or not, customer surveys have shown that the majority of green car buyers WANT strange looking cars that stand out. That's part of the reason why honda's accord hybrids have been discontinued. People like you and I just want efficient cars on the road, but aren't necessarily in the market to buy them, and may not be able to afford the premium placed on them. Those that can afford it, often want to make a statement.
No one likes it when a Bloody German is right, but in this case they are... Here, 1 Liter refers to the the concept of attempting to achieve 100Km per 1L of fuel. The engine itself will have a displacement of 0.3L.
no one likes it when a German is right?
You f*cking racist, please leave. The war was ages ago and germany has a green-incorporated government and generally a really nice populous.
@Leo: You're the racist by implying that Germans are a race. That's what Hitler did too. Aryan race, remember?
@ bloody german.
"1 litre car" means the cars valves have a 1 litre capacity .
yeah I'm clearly racist for DEFENDING germany and getting my terminology mixed up. Kill the messenger why don't you.
Do Want.
I prefer my Camel. No......Thank you, VW.
"First up Winterkorn stressed that the 1-Liter “would not be a best seller” and thus will only be produced in limited numbers."
Meaning: "We will produce only very few of them, for a ridiculous high price."
So that they can later say: "We tried! But the customer does not like our highly innovative environment-friendly cars."
And if you are ever in an actual collision with any other vehicle, the seats fold down to turn it into a ready-made coffin.
LOL!
LOL -- I really laughed out loud on that one...
Heheh +
Well, maybe if auto manufactures stopped producing friggin' tanks, or better yet if soccer moms and douche bags stopped buying them, you wouldn't have to worry about a bumper coming at you at face level. The potential for serious injury goes down if an accident involves two lighter cars as opposed to a light car and an Abrams.
So, if we get rid of all other cars on the road, this will be safe?
If you do some research you'll find that the magnesium shell and compact size of the car make it extremely safe.
"Despite the lightweight construction of all components, safety has been a major element in all phases of the development of the 1-litre car. For example, the concept vehicle's safety equipment includes anti-lock brakes, ESP electronic stability program and a driver's airbag. Deformation elements at the front end and the spaceframe construction provide impact and roll-over protection comparable to that of a GT racing car."
http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/top-vw-1-liter-car.htm
I think I'll stick with a Hayabusa powered smart for two. It may not get 235mpg, but it gets better mileage then my current car and can beat a Ferrari in a drag race.