VW pull a bait and switch on their ultra-efficient car of the future concept.
Back in 2002 Volkswagen unveiled the 1L Concept, an ultra-efficient 2 seater with the goal of only consuming 1 liter of diesel per 100 km or around 235 mpg. Dr. Ferdinand Piëch drove the car some 200 km to the 42nd Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Volkswagen AG Hamburg. The trip actually beat the goal while only consuming 0.89 liters per 100 km or 264 mpg. The cars specs include a 0.3 liter 1 cylinder diesel engine producing only 8 bhp and 13 ft-lbs, a carbon fiber and magnesium chassis, 2 seats in tandem, and a single gull-wing door. The car only weighed 290 kg or 640 lbs, has a drag coeffient of 0.16, and could reach a top speed of 120 km/h or 75mph.
The concept seemed to fall off the radar until early last year, when rumors of production circled the internet. The rumors said the car would go on sale in 2010. The car would be built and sold in China and achieve 258 mpg. The price? Get ready for this: $600. There's even a rumor of an IPO in Shanghai for a company that Volkswagen started called Better Than Electric Cars.
Then last fall VW decided to unveil a heavily updated version of the 1L Concept at the Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany. The new concept had changed visually. It was still a lightweight 2 seater under diesel power, but its cylinder count had doubled to two and its now a 0.8 liter TDI hybrid. And it's a bit heavier at 380 kg or 837 lbs. But power is up to 29 bhp in Sport Mode. It's also thirstier, consuming 1.38 liters per 100 km 0r 170 mpg.
Production is now expected to be around 2013-2014 and costs are estimated at €20,000 to €30,000. It's been 5 months since Frankfurt, but ridiculous rumors still circulate. I just wanted to clarify a few things. Volkswagen is NOT selling a car for $600 in China. The closest you can get to that is a Polo for the equivalent of $11,000 and there never was an IPO for Better Than Electric Cars.
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