Volkswagen thinks the world will be ready for a radical re-think of the car in about four years. That's when the German automaker says it plans to begin production of a 170 mpg two-seater, which looks more like a wingless aircraft than a Jetta.
Autoblog reports, "Ono of the numerous cars that will be shown by Volkswagen this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show is the latest edition of the 1-liter concept. The name represents the amount of fuel it takes the vehicle to travel 100 km (62 miles) and nominally equates to 235 mpg." The math on this one was apparently done by the marketing department, however. Autoblog notes, "It seems to take 1.49 liters / 100 km, or a mere 157.8 mpg (US). For all practical purposes, the difference is largely inconsequential since so little fuel is used at these lofty levels."
The car looks like nothing else on the road. It's a two-seater, but the passenger sits directly behind the driver, as in a fighter jet. The arrangement, Jalopnik explains, "affords a much smaller frontal area," meaning the car creates less fuel-sapping wind resistance. The shape tapers to an even smaller tail, and the rear wheels are enclosed by the body to complete the cockpit-with-tires look.
The car "is powered by an 800cc two-stroke diesel, coupled to an electric motor," according to the U.K.'s AutoCar. It isn't speedy or powerful, managing just 34 horsepower. But with an empty weight of barely over 1,000-lbs and an efficient 7-speed DSG gearbox, it still manages a top speed of 99 mph.
And, unbelievably, it may be headed for the showroom floor. Motor Trend reports that VW has made "plans for the L1's production slated for 2013."
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