VW L1 concept = 170 mpg

[Kevin Dougherty]

Still no mirrors...I think


Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen L1 Concept, the "most fuel-efficient automobile in the world," gets 170 mpg — Autoblog

[02insight]

actually I can see mirrors but they seem small.

[retepsnikrep]

I would have one of those tomorrow.

As I retire in 2014 I'll have to hope they are in production by then, and I'll buy myself my first ever brand new car and treat myself to one.

I'm sure there must be room in there for a few more lithium batteries. LOL!!!

[Corey]

Anyone think the VW looks like an Insight?

[MN Driver]

Originally Posted by Corey

Anyone think the VW looks like an Insight?

Looks just like someone tossed together the prints from the EV1 and the Gen 1 Insight to me

When it comes down to the aerodynamic factors, there is no way of avoiding the 'we all look alike' factor. ...at least until we have electric cars and we don't need to have a chunk of space in the front used by an engine, then more cars will look like what Aptera has in its design bucket. IMHO

[MN Driver]

I continued reading this. The 0.8 liter diesel engine isn't likely to pass US emission standards due to the testing procedure for diesel engines here in the states. ...so unless they strap one super catalytic converter on the engine that has never been used before I have a feeling that it won't pass, but we can hope. We really need emissions reform for diesel engines so they can be rated the same way as gasoline passenger cars are rated, by mile, instead of emissions per gallon!!

This is a very interesting car, I'm sure we'll have all the 'auto experts' complaining over the 14.3 second 0-60 or the ~2.5 gallon(10 liter) gas tank, even though it gets 670km or 402 miles with that tank.

With the center seating, there wouldn't need to be a left-hand and right-hand drive, it could be one car internationally which would be a really cool change to current cars. I'd really like to see how the 'no-doors, climb through the roof' design works because it looks like quite a step up to get inside. Not workable for those who need to transport someone who uses a wheelchair from time to time, but then again it is a 2-seater with standard 2 seater limitations as well.

I'd love this car, although my head can't get around the lightweight carbon fiber/plastic body that wants me to remove the passenger seat and load that section with lithium cells and turn this into the maddest PHEV ever built, hopefully with the ability to run 100% electric on the highway. It says that the motor gives power throughout the drive range and can be disconnected from the gas engine, but I wonder if it can be disconnected and provide enough power for 55mph highway travel with 10kW. Then again I'm sure with the .8 liter in top gear with loads of electric it's probably going to be fed diesel by a figurative eye dropper anyway. We shall see what happens, worst case scenario, the diesel doesn't pass in the US and they don't implement a gas engine to bring it here, one could dream of importing one from overseas and adding the batteries for a full EV. If I can get still get a few hybrid packs of 250 5.5Ah high power NiMh cells for less than $500 I'd be game for that idea too.