Volkswagen's $600 car gets 258 mpg

[desotoman]

At least one car manufacturer gets it. I am sure this car will eventually run at a Salt Flats or Dry Lake near you. Can you imagine this car with a 500 hp motorcycle engine in it. 

Tom G.

 

This $600 car is no toy and is ready to be released in China next year.

The single-seater aero car totes VW (Volkswagen) branding.

Volkswagen did a lot of very highly protected testing of this car in Germany, but it was not announced until now where the car would make its first appearance.

The car was introduced at the VW stockholders meeting as the most economical car in the world is presented.

The initial objective of the prototype was to prove that 1 liter of fuel could deliver 100 kilos of travel.

Spartan interior doesn't sacrifice safety

The aero design proved essential to getting the desired result. The body is 3.47 meters long and just 1.25 meters wide, and a little over a meter high. The prototype was made completely of carbon fiber and is not painted to save weight.

The power plant is a one cylinder diesel positioned ahead of the rear axle and combined with an automatic shift controlled by a knob in the interior.

Safety was not compromised as the impact and roll-over protection is comparable to the GT racing cars.

$600 car gets 258 mpg

The Most Economic Car in the World will be on sale next year:

Better than Electric Car - 258 miles/gallon: IPO 2010 in Shanghai

This is a single seated car

From conception to production: 3 years and the company is headquartered in Hamburg , Germany .

Will be selling for 4000 yuan, equivalent to US$600..

Gas tank capacity = 1..7 gallons

Speed = 62  - 74.6 Miles/hour

Fuel efficiency = 258 miles/gallon

Travel distance with a full tank = 404 miles

[McRat]

I know VW has a 175mpg diesel in development, but that is amazing.

I find the $600 thing to be curious.  It's hard to buy any diesel engine for $600.

[nrhs sales]

That was my thinking as well. All carbon fiber and a diesel engine for $600. I'll believe it when I see it!!

[jb2]

Read about this a few years ago.  Not true except that vw was working on a 1 liter as an engineering exercise.  It was originally posted in the uk in 2002.

The Truth: 
The Volkswagen (VW) L1 is a real car, seats 2 and if released would have a price tag $25,900.

Volkswagen has designed and built the L-1 with an eye toward better gas mileage and lower carbon emissions. It has not yet resulted in a production model to be released to the public, but Former VW chairman Dr Ferdinand Piëch actually drove the L1 to the VW shareholders' meeting in Hamburg from his office in Wolfsburg which lies about 84 miles South of the German port. Piëch recorded 317.4mpg with an average speed of 43.5mph. 

The two passenger car is equipped with a carbon fiber body, 299cc single-cylinder diesel engine, anti lock brakes, driver's airbag and an electronic stability program.  The L1's price tag of  $25,900 was much higher than what the German automotive company targeted for consumers.

The UK Telegraph followed the progress of the L1 over the years reported that the project had been scrapped and later restarted.  The L1 has design challenges such as the passenger having to sit bobsled style with their legs around the drivers seat as well as excessive noise and vibration adding to passenger discomfort.   

Piëch now heads VW's supervisory board and is still working on fuel efficient vehicles for the German automaker.   The L1 appeared to be a stepping stone and a learning tool to design more efficient vehicles.  Piëch said, "We will never build a one-litre car, but it could give us the knowledge to build a two-litre car."

The VW company also introduced a 3 liter vehicle, the Lupo, which seats four and goes about 78 miles to a gallon of fuel.

[McRat]

I can't remember where I read it, but the VW L1 proof-of-concept in a realistic consumer trim, got 175mpg with 2 people at freeway speeds, with a 850cc turbo diesel hybrid powertrain a couple years ago.  It had a Cd of about .2?  Not sure whatever happened to it or if my facts are correct.

It certainly can be done.  But would people buy it?

[robfrey]

Any of the above listed scenerios are quite impressive. Even at only 78mpg, it's still pretty cool.

[Bob Wanner]

I've been all over this for a long time.
Concept cars are simply that, if a version comes to market it will look far different than this. ( key bad word, WIDER)
It is 49" Wide X 39" Tall  X about 11 feet long. The CD is variously reported from .16 to .195. The Frontal area is 13.27 sq ft. Frontal view is Ugly, side and rear are  HOT.
Google VW L1 and pleasure yourself, LSR GT fans.
Bob W

[Crosley]

kinda looks  like the micro car :  Peel P-50  ,  built  many years ago

[wolcottjl]

My 1981 VW Diesel rabbit got over 50MPH. 

[iguana]

My 1981 VW Diesel rabbit got over 50MPH. 

And I bet one could be had for a bit less than $600

[Bville701]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fTAPwPIIjc     

[wolcottjl]

My 1981 VW Diesel rabbit got over 50MPH. 

And I bet one could be had for a bit less than $600

The pickup was a couple hundred more.  They seem to hold better value.  LOL

[McRat]

Over 50mph?  Must have had a stiff tailwind.   

There have been several cars for US sale that hit 45mpg or higher in real world conditions, but it's funny that most all were from 20 years ago or more. 

In the same time period V8 and V6 engine output and fuel economy climbed dramatically, while ultra-economy technology has faltered for the most part.

[jimmy six]

Better carry an extra ignition box if you want to get anywhere..............

[joea]

this is how far we have devolved....much like our government efficiency...

1990 geo metro 53 mpg city 58 mpg highway factor rating
we got more than that on multiple occassions..

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/calculatorSelectEngine.jsp?year=1990&make=Geo&model=Metro%20XFI

Honda 52 highway factory...1990..
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/calculatorCompareSideBySide.jsp?column=1&id=6410

Honda 55 mpg highway factory 1992....
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/calculatorCompareSideBySide.jsp?column=1&id=8719

I mean do we even have a fricken hybrid today for 25,000 that can get that mileage highway..?...

Joe