VW boss confirms 235MPG car for 2010

dannyboy2 submitted on 10/09/2007 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 11:20 AM
from: www.motorauthority.com

Tags: VW

As outrageous as the idea of a 1-liter car sounds more reports have emerged confirming the ultra-frugal car is in fact in development and that it could be on the market by as early as 2010. At last month’s Frankfurt Motor Show senior VW exec Ferdinand Piëch claimed the car would be available by the end of the decade and now CEO Martin Winterkorn has backed up the claim as well as providing some of the production details. Read Article

Comments:

Images hosted in your AgentSpace can now be posted in the comments section using the following syntax (case matters):
[img]IMAGE URL[/img]
Example: [img]http://agent004.myautospies.com/users/150/Sample-Gallery/sample1.JPG[/img]

SoSnootySo - 10/9/2007 12:08:58 PM

+1 Boost

That's not even possible with most motorbikes...

reply to this comment

EnnNorak - 10/10/2007 12:27:47 AM

+1 Boost

It is theorectically possible with a very low-power diesel and skinny hard tires and a car made with a balsa wood frame covered by a thin light film of custom made Japanese paper. Who would want such a car?

TheSailor - 10/10/2007 7:17:07 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

WOW, is somebody living in the fifties? Welcome to the twentyfirst century and a thing called new technology! Didn't you claim to be some sort of engineer?

iamdabest1 - 10/9/2007 12:23:19 PM

0 Boost

i wish this were true, but 200 mpg will NEVER happen.
mopeds get like 60mpg or 80 at most.

what really sucks is even if they ever do make a car get 200 mpg they will make gas like $30.00 per gallon so it will be the same thing in terms of spending per week.
everyone is so concerned with consumption of fuel the truth of the matter is if gas were 1.25 a gallon ( damn i miss the bill clinton years) no one would car how many miles per gallon they got.

reply to this comment

M35MT - 10/9/2007 12:27:59 PMView My AgentSpace

-2 Boost

If you think Bill Clinton was responsible for low oil prices (they actually werent low, they were relative to the CPI at the time) then you dont know what you're talking about.

TheSailor - 10/9/2007 6:35:13 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

Well... If Bush is responsible for the gas prices sky rocketing, that is ONE thing he has done right! Because the high gas price is apparently (actually quite obviously judging by your post) the one thing which can make the americans care about the environment... I don't give much for the whole "CO2-is-melting-the-poles" theory, but one thing is for certain: Nothing good comes from all that exhaust from our cars! and the ONLY way to bring that down is to reduce consumption!

atomicbri - 10/9/2007 6:52:04 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

People also said we would NEVER go into space.... so I believe high mileage estimates can be achieved.

1995e34 - 10/9/2007 8:23:41 PM

+2 Boost

gas is cheap. we've yet to see expensive gas.

c36amg - 10/10/2007 5:57:47 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

if only ur war on terror stops & stupid bush stops sending troops to iraq...oil prices would be fine... come on u americans know who created this problem & it was u elected bush

1970toyotamarc - 10/9/2007 12:24:34 PM

-1 Boost

this article is filled with holes. first, is it one litre, or one cylinder? the article goes back and forth. second, "reports have emerged confirming" is hardly a definitive statement. I dont even blame VW for this, it is just lazy journalism. not gonna happen.

reply to this comment

S4cabriofoxone - 10/9/2007 5:41:20 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

"As outrageous as the idea of a 1-liter car sounds more reports have emerged confirming the ultra-frugal car is in fact in development and that it could be on the market by as early as 2010."

The 1.0L idea isn't outrageous. Plenty of European-market vehicles have 1.2s and 1.3s. I'm guessing it's going to be a 1 CYLINDER-- probably with less than 1.0 liter of displacement.

TheSailor - 10/9/2007 6:20:25 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

WRONG WRONG WRONG! This is very likely, and 1 liter is as in 1 liter pr 100 km (as in 235 MPG)... my guess is it will be a 3 cylinder 0.5 liter turbo diesel (possibly even high energy density bio-diesel) with a light weight 4-speed double clutch tranny setup in a superlightweight carbon-kevlar chassis plastic bodywork two seater car!

1 cylinder (or even two cylinders) will vibrate like hell and will require a huge flywheel in order to provide enough inertia to spin the engine through a full cycle without a work stroke (1 cylinder). The two cylinder setup could cure the need for a huge flywheel, but would require two cylinders running parallel to each other (one exhausting while the other compressing) and that causes lots of vibrations - I've tried it with small boat engines while I was attending the academy... Both engine designs are not very efficient because of their designs and are not suited for stop-and-go systems, which will be necessary in such a car...

Therefore, it will most likely be a VERY small displacement 3 cylinder. And it is not outrageous at all... It is easily possible with todays technology... The question is whether they'll be able to make it cheap enough to make it viable!

TheSailor - 10/9/2007 6:24:32 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

ACtually, take a look at this:

http://www.fast-autos.net/vehicles/Volkswagen/2005/EcoRacer/

I know it is only 3.4L / 100 km and only a concept, but if they are able to make a 850 kg (1700+ lbs) 134 hp car do close to 90 MPG, don't you think 235 MPG using the latest in technology would be possible?

M35MT - 10/9/2007 12:29:06 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

"Plastic and Magnesium body"

What happens in an accident? This is a cool short-term solution if it actually works, however, we still need to focus on alternative fuels...

reply to this comment

EnnNorak - 10/10/2007 12:32:09 AM

+1 Boost

A pure magnesium body would burn like hell if ignited in an accident. Plastic cars better be UV protected or covered with protective paint or the sun will make soon destroy their good looks.

TheSailor - 10/10/2007 7:31:59 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Hmm... Yeah... If you heat it to almost 634 degrees centigrade... Which is highly unlikely to happen in a car fire! And if the car catches fire, you have bigger problems than magnesium components maybe catching fire! Silly AND stupid argument... And FYI: Lots of car manufacturers are already using plastic bodypanels with good results!

TheSailor - 10/10/2007 10:53:11 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Ohh... and I almost forgot... The beetle engine block was made of a highly potent Magnesium/aluminium alloy... That didn't catch fire unless you took a blowtorch to it... Gasoline catching fire is a far greater issue than magnesium will ever be!

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 10/9/2007 12:31:06 PM

+1 Boost

VW already made a 1L car, a 2L car and many 3L cars.. back in the early to mid 90s. Way before any Global Marketing hype!

reply to this comment

EnnNorak - 10/10/2007 12:35:18 AM

+1 Boost

It would have to be a 300 cc in-line six with a displacement of 50 cc per cylinder and the car would have to weigh no more than a 300 cc motorcycle.

reply to this comment

TheSailor - 10/10/2007 7:47:21 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Once again... What do you base this on? It does NOT have to weigh as little as a motorcycle since it doesn't need to have anywhere near the performance of a motorcycle... And why would it need a 6 cylinder engine?! Do you have a very scientific explanation that none of us have thought of? No? Didn't think so!

reply to this comment

DaHarder - 10/9/2007 12:43:34 PM

+1 Boost

All that is confirmed here is the continued development of more fuel efficient vehicles.

Production models featuring this technology by 2010...

NOT EVEN!

reply to this comment

TheSailor - 10/9/2007 1:03:41 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

They've already proven that it is possible to build a "1L" car for production... But it is more of a Scooter than an actual car... But technically and according to the German TÜV it was a car... So this is far from impossible...

reply to this comment

M35MT - 10/9/2007 1:04:35 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

It seems like an electric car would make more sense than this.

reply to this comment

DaHarder - 10/9/2007 1:38:35 PM

+1 Boost

1 liter vehicles have grazed even U.S. roads for many years now, just take a look under the hood of that ratty old 1990 Geo Metro (or 1987 Chevy Sprint) you see every day on your commute...

Yepper - 1 Liter 3 cylinder!

And when I lived in Japan, Kei-series vehicles had both 660cc...

So what's the big deal hear is the fuel consumption claim, not the displacement.

reply to this comment

TheSailor - 10/9/2007 2:01:28 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

1L as in ONE liter of fuel pr 100 km... That is 235 MPG... 1.0 liters of displacement is an old story... We've had those for decades in europe... We also have 600 CC engines... When we talk about 1L 2L or 3L we talk about highly efficient cars which do 100 km on 1, 2 or 3 liters of fuel... VW made the Lupo 3L and Audi the A2 3L close to the turn of the century (Can't remember the exact date)... The Lupo still holds the record for the production car with the highest MPG rating ever... And that was a 1.4 liter Turbo diesel with an auto tranny and it was okay fast for a super compact and could seat two adults and two (small) children...
If you could build a little two seater out of composite materials (such as kevlar reinforced carbon fibre)with a 0.5 liter turbo diesel with the latest technology in regenerative braking for charging batteries, intelligent coast-and-burn technology and stop-and-start electronics it could easily do 235 MPG, or 1L if you please...

Heyhuub - 10/9/2007 2:08:00 PM

+2 Boost

Actually 2 adults can fit reasonably well in the back of a Lupo.

DaHarder - 10/9/2007 3:28:53 PM

+2 Boost

... and that was a case of me NOT reading the entire article thoroughly before responding...

Hey! It Happens

S4cabriofoxone - 10/9/2007 5:44:14 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

DaHarder, this is something I've never seen before: someone putting their pride away and actually admitting to a mistake. We're all too darn stubborn. Bravo!

Rupert - 10/9/2007 6:54:14 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

I have a Lupo!
You can fit 4 adults in perfectly well.
I have a 1.4 though...75 hp oh yeah :D

TheSailor - 10/9/2007 7:01:24 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Rupert... I think we have to define the term "adults" here... Because while in high school, one of my friends had one of those and my 6"5' had some trouble fitting in any seat in that car... Fortunately it had a big moon roof... ;D

BTW: I have a 240 hp 2.0 TFSI... Oh yeah! :P

TheSailor - 10/9/2007 7:03:48 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Not in a Lupo though... Even though that might be a lot of fun... Rip out the front seats and I'd fit in there like a charm... How much does one of those weigh? 5 lbs or something? 8D

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 10/10/2007 10:51:56 AM

+1 Boost

"The Lupo still holds the record for the production car with the highest MPG rating ever... And that was a 1.4 liter Turbo diesel with an auto tranny and it was okay fast for a super compact and could seat two adults and two (small) children... "

yeah I remember that car aswell

Rupert - 10/10/2007 12:40:50 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

I have taken my 6'5" friend in the back of the Lupo!
He was fine!
I'm 6'2" and I fit fine in it too...

A 240 hp Lupo!!! That would be hilarious...

My Lupo weighs a respectable 997 kilos...Less than a ton lol. But it's such a happy car! It looks like it's smiling and the seat panels that match the blue paint always lift my mood...

Your friend had a Lupo? How old are you then???

TheSailor - 10/10/2007 1:21:00 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

I'm 22 and it is 5 years since I graduated (yes yes... I graduated high school at 17... So what)... His father had promised him a car and he gave him a Lupo 3L so the fuel bill would be a little smaller!
It was a neat little car... Quite like a little go-kart... It didn't do that well with 4 guys in it though...

Rupert - 10/10/2007 5:27:44 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

A Lupo 3L...slow...

I drive mine like it is a go-kart.

lewishamiltonpimp - 10/9/2007 5:22:41 PM

0 Boost

We had a 1 litre Mini back in 1973.

Why is a 1 litre car 'outrageous'?

reply to this comment

S4cabriofoxone - 10/9/2007 5:45:13 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

1L, as in, how many LITERS of FUEL used for every 100 km driven. NOT 1.0L in displacement. It will probably have about half that. This article should be revised for Americans!

TheSailor - 10/9/2007 7:20:34 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

What?! You obviously didn't read the news about the guy who figured out that it is better for the environment to drive around than to walk around because it conserves a lot of the energy used to feed and take care of the live stock... No matter what you do, it is bad for the environment... So if you want to be really kind to the environment, you should buy a set of rollerskates to get around (hitching rides with buses and cars)... A set of lowered rollerblades with a HID-kit, chrome spinners and a fancy paint job would be really cool though, huh?

reply to this comment

TexLandRover - 10/9/2007 9:57:59 PM

+1 Boost

iamdabest1 makes a good point and I agree. Trying to get the edge on the oil industry will not work in the long run. They will RAISE prices to maintain their profit levels in ratio to gasoline consumption. Its as simple as idling refining capacity, and bang, gasoline prices go up. So folks jumping on high mileage vehicles will only save you a few $$$ for a short time.

reply to this comment

EnnNorak - 10/10/2007 12:39:28 AM

+1 Boost

None of this matters a damn as soon as cheap solar cells become available. We can then use the electricity generated by solar radiation to get hydrogen from water and run all our cars on pure hydrogen. And don't tell me about the Hindenburg -- most people who died in that disaster did so by jumping too early. The hydrogen went straight up as did the short-lived flames.

TheSailor - 10/10/2007 4:26:42 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

So F-ing what if the gas-prices go up? It will still make the consumption go down even further because each gallon saved is worth a lot of money... And in the end, saving money isn't the purpose of these cars... IT IS SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT!

TheSailor - 10/10/2007 7:25:01 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

BTW: Unless you want to be driving a 1000 sq.ft. car, you are not going to be able to make a proper car powered by solar panels! The suns energy radiation at the surface of the earth amounts to a whopping 200 w/sq.m. And Solar panels are no where near 20% efficient... Meaning that you get less than 40 Watts pr square meter of surface area... So lets say the average car has 8 sq m of surface area... that would give you 320 watts of power if you are lucky, there is absolutely no clouds and the sun is at it's highest (around high noon)! So the people tooting solar panels as a viable solution for cars just doesn't know what they are talking about! The only other solution besides fossil fuels (or bio fuels ofcause) is hydrogen! All the other Doo-wah solutions are nothing but gimmicks and scientists looking for funding!

Porschinator - 10/10/2007 5:48:58 PM

+1 Boost

I will believe it when I SEE it...

reply to this comment

huu76 - 10/11/2007 1:10:54 AM

+1 Boost

What's the mileage on a lawnmower? That's basically all this is, a retarded looking lawnmower.

Not a best seller, basically means it'll never see the light of day. Remember when the Lupo 3L got the axe because they couldn't make money on it? Maybe VW is selling this thing for $1million each? That should fix the env't in no time.

reply to this comment

To post a comment for this story, you must first Login.

If you do not have an account, you will need to Register (It's Free!).