Concept Cars
The 1-litre Car
The world's first one litre carThe challenge: to produce the most economical series-production vehicle ever on the market, at an acceptable price. Volkswagen's Research and Development team created the 1-litre car - a car which consumes just 1 litre of fuel for every 100 kilometres - in just 3 years.
With a width of just 1,25 metres, the 1-litre car is extraordinarily narrow, in order to harness the aerodynamics needed for such fuel-efficient travel. Driver and passenger sit in tandem and the plastic bodywork is shaped like a teardrop. Rear wheels disappear entirely behind their rim, exterior mirrors are replaced by LCD monitors in the cockpit. Door locks do not exist (the car automatically unlocks when the driver approaches with a custom-made sensor), the engine comes to life with a starter button.
In order to reduce weight and area, existing components needed to be modified in order to make them ultra-efficient. For instance, the one litre cylinder diesel engine has just 0,3 litre displacement with an output of 6.3 kW/8.5 bhp.
Without operating fluids it weighs just 26 kg. The double wishbone axle too is exceptionally light - weighing in at no more than 8 kilograms. A six-speed gearbox selects gears sequentially and automatically - optimising power transmission, minimising fuel consumption. The gearbox also includes a start-stop system, with a freewheel function. In overrun mode, the engine switched off - the car literally glides - and restarts immediately when the accelerator is depressed.
