Volkswagen claimed to have unveiled the most economical road car in the world at the 42nd annual meeting of stockholders in Hamburg yesterday.
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The cigar-shaped one-litre (0.99 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres or 285 miles per gallon) prototype was driven under its own power from Wolfsburg to the meeting in Hamburg by outgoing VW chairman Dr. Ferdinand Piëch.
Developing a roadworthy vehicle that consumes just one litre of fuel per 100 kilometres required all existing technical solutions to be examined, and in close cooperation with numerous suppliers, replaced by better, and principally lighter versions, VW said.
The result is a vehicle that looks more like a sports car than a typical research vehicle.
The conceptual necessity for a small frontal area led to the development of an unusually narrow and very low body form being chosen. The body was developed in a wind tunnel, is 3.47 metres long, but just 1.25 metres wide and just over a metre in height.
It is made completely of carbon fibre composites, and to save weight, is not painted. The carbon-fibre-reinforced outer skin is tensioned over a spaceframe that is not made of aluminium, but rather of magnesium, which is even lighter. The coefficient of drag is 0.159.
The one-litre car is powered by a single-cylinder diesel engine, centrally positioned in front of the rear axle and combined with an automated direct shift gearbox. The crankcase and cylinder head of the 0.3-litre engine (299 cc) are of an aluminium monobloc construction.
The naturally aspirated, direct-injection diesel engine employs advanced high-pressure unit injection technology to generate 8.5 bhp at 4,000 rpm. This gives the vehicle, which weighs just 290 kg, a lively temperament.
Fuel consumption is 0.99 litre per 100 kilometres which, with a 6.5-litre tank, gives a range of around 650 kilometres (400 miles) without refuelling.
Due to the restriction of space, it was not possible to adapt so a compact, automated six-speed gearbox is used, controlled from a turn switch in the cockpit.
Running gear made of lightweight alloy, tyres that offer optimised rolling resistance and 16-inch wheels made of extremely lightweight composite material complement the economical drive system.
The interior is sportingly simple in design, yet offers enough space for two people, who can comfortably get in after folding back the turret-like gullwing door.
An extremely lightweight construction has also been employed for the seats. The seat frames are made of magnesium, and firm, yet comfortable fabric covers are used instead of a classic upholstery.
Despite the lightweight construction of all components, safety has been a major element in all phases of the development of the one-litre car.
For example, the concept vehicle’s safety equipment includes anti-lock brakes, ESP electronic stability program and a driver’s airbag. Deformation elements at the front end and the spaceframe construction provide impact and roll-over protection comparable to that of a GT racing car.
The driver and passenger sit centrally as if in a monoposto, but in tandem. The mid-engine is installed transversely in front of the rear axle. With its complex design (double wishbones at front, DeDion suspension at rear) and combined with the low centre of gravity and low overall vehicle weight, the lightweight running gear results in very agile handling.
There is an easily accessible stowage compartment with a capacity of 80-litres under a separate flap in the rear; a reversing camera that helps when manoeuvring; automatic locking/unlocking of the gullwing door and a starter button in the cockpit that together allow keyless operation.
The concept of the one-litre car – four wheels, low height, with two seats in tandem – gives an idea for a possible new family of vehicles, which could cover new requirements ranging from the ultra-economical vehicle, through the low-lost everyday touring vehicle for young people to the high-performance sports supercar.
