Volkswagen gives green light to one-litre eco car
VW's 280mpg eco car could be on sale by 2010
Author: Robin Brown
Published: 04 July 2008
Volkswagen may be about to push ahead with a limited production run of its two-seater 283mpg '1-litre' car, according to CAR.
VW unveiled the ultra-low consumption car - so-called because it can achieve 100km of driving one one litre of petrol - in 2002 to general acclaim, but the costs of putting the car into production have proved prohibitive, until now.
Volkswagen will still eat a substantial loss on every model sold - even at prices reaching as high as €30K - so the one-litre car will be launched primarily as a PR exercise and a dummy run for the high-mileage technology.
The 300kg car is likely to be launched with a 300cc two-cylinder turbodiesel and may save weight and aerodynamic drag thanks to its sculpted carbon-fibre monocoque.
A mild hybrid system will apparently allow for an all-electric mode, but any luxury or gadgetry will be stripped out to save weight and boost economy, though basic safety kit will have to be included if the one-litre is to ever make a debut on European roads.
With a width of 1.25 metres to enhance aerodynamics, the passenger sits behind the driver and the engine is installed transversely, ahead of the driver.
The first models could be on European roads by 2010.
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