VW Confirms 1L Concept Will Become Reality in 2010
Image source: Wikipedia
There’s been talk about the VW 1L concept for years. Since VW built the original, fuel economy, safety, price, and release date has been speculated upon and argued about, and I’d finally stopped thinking it was ever going to happen. However, according to VW’s CEO, it should hit the market in 2010.
The VW 1L is so named because, in theory, it only consumes one liter of fuel per 100 kilometers traveled. For those of us in the US, this translates into about 235 MPG. Definitely far and above anything on the market currently. The concept, developed in 2002, actually got better fuel economy, scoring a sweet .89L/100km in VW testing. It’s likely to use more fuel in real world use, but with that kind of mileage in testing it’s unlikely that anyone would complain about an “unsatisfactory 200 MPG.”
- » See also: 12 X-Prize Contenders Show Off Their MPG Tech At SEMA 2009
- » Get Gas 2.0 by RSS or sign up by email.
The thing is, that kinda of fuel economy comes at the price of riding in an extremely small two seater, with the two seats being one in front of the other, a la jet plane, rather than a standard side by side. The 1L also looks frighteningly close to the ground, which is part of how it pulls off a drag coefficient of .159, much better than any current production vehicle. While the final design isn’t done, VW will probably power the car with a 1 cyclinder diesel engine of displacement lower the .5 L, meaning the car’s speed will top out at 120 km/h.
The other obvious issue is the one I’m sure you’re all wondering about too. How safe is this thing? While I’m not usually one to complain about small cars, the 1L is extremely light and low to the ground. If it were released in the US I could easily see it being run over by any old F150 or Hummer. Nothing is out right now about safety, but as the production date nears, I’m sure VW will be doing lots of testing to reassure the public.
2010 isn’t that far off, in fact, it’s about the same time the Volt is supposed to be hitting the streets, so you’ll likely hear a lot more good and bad about this car in the coming months.
Posts Related to VW’s 1L and other Green Car Technology:
- The World’s Most Fuel Efficient Car: 285 MPG, Not A Hybrid
- A Biodiesel Prius? VW To Release 69.9 MPG Diesel Hybrid
- The Sporty Future of Electrics Cars: the Lightning GT
- The Cleanest Cars on Earth: Honda Civic GX and Other Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs)
- Six New Technologies Will Help Manufacturers Reach the 35 MPG Goal (Without Hybrids)
- Affordable Electric Cars Coming to US in 2009
- Mercedes 40-MPG Diesel Hybrid: Cleanest SUV on the Planet
- Tesla’s First Electric Vehicle, 2008 Roadster, Now Under Production
Source: Motorauthority
.jpg){kind=link}
[...] Not much longer will the US be stuck in the races.. VW Confirms 1L Concept Will Become Reality in 2010 : Gas 2.0 and Aptera’s $26,000 Electric Car and 300 MPG Hybrid Coming Soon : Gas 2.0 With those two [...]
Just ship the damn 1.4 TDI Polo (70mpg) to the US. What the hell is VW waiting for?
b.zgorzelski said: “stuff”
^
Ignore this guy. I think the front-rear 2-seater with 235 mpg is very sexy and practical at the same time.
To see how practical it is, next time you are on the road, pay attention to how many cars carry only the driver.
Sorry to chime in so late but I can honestly say I’ll be in the front of the line to buy this one I think it is the perfect commuter car. I drive 100 miles a day just to and from work so the better the mpg the better. I guess I’ll put off buying a new car for a few more months till they release more info. I only hope they release it here in the US.
Corey,
I drive a 92 honda civic with 38-45 mpg. I know what you mean.
I would buy this tomorrow if it were available, not simply because the cost of gasoline is so high, but because these “fuel efficient” cars that only get 35 mpg are insulting and wasteful when you consider the technology already exists which would allow us to do much, much better. Hopefully VW will offer a waiting list prior to the sale of this car.
Garbage! I would RUN to buy one! I’m so sick of the politics and BIG GUNS with the oil companies pushing mpg DOWN. WE KNOW IT CAN BE DONE!! And WITHOUT hydrogen cells or electricity–Honda’s Civic ran a steady 50mpg back in the 80s–I had one and when I sold it after 8 years it STILL GOT 70mpg!! Heck! Just 8 years ago I could get a Toyota Echo with 42mpg hwy but they ditched it for the similar Yaris that gets only 35 at best. Take a look people–ALL THE NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN! WE HAVE TO DEMAND BETTER FUEL EFFICIENCY!!!!
I am American but I will buy WHOEVER gets me the best mpg car I can get–I don’t care if it’s produced in Cambodia! This is the ONLY way to force American car manufacturers to do better. We know they can..they just need incentive and oil companies ARENT gonna give it to them –WE HAVE TO!!
I don’t care what this car looks like, I’m with the guy who said if he can get one for the equivalent price range he’d buy one. $13K-$18K and I’m in there too!
I want this car. I saw it in an email…. said it was going for only 600 bucks some where in asia….. I find that hard to believe. I still want the car. I need to get rid of my rusted college beater!
How does one sign up for one of the VW Il cars? It would be a perfect second car and much safer than a bike or motorcycle! I want my name on the list to buy one asap. Thanks.
I would buy that car. I’m frustrated with current cars, I think that they’re ugly, stuck “inside the box,” and desperately need to be improved. If they sold this car at an affordable price I could see not only myself but many other people driving this car or something like this.
Think about what cars looked like in the 80’s or what computers looked like. No one then would have ever imagined cell phones or laptops. I think this car is sweet, and am interested in seeing the price.