Volkswagen's 'one-litre' eco car by 2010

Sydney, Jul 3: Volkswagen may be set to launch their super-economic and ultra-efficient microcar - which is capable of travelling 100km on just one litre of fuel - as early as 2010. Volkswagen first revealed a concept version of the tandem two-seater car at a company annual general meeting back in 2002, predicting it could see production in 2012.

But a report on British website CAR says that the concept, which in its original form could travel 100km on one litre of fuel, is close to production readiness. The original bullet-shaped concept car, which weighed just 290kg, looked more like a solar vehicle than regular passenger transport. It was 3.65m long, just 1.25m wide and less than a metre tall, with a jet fighter-style gull-wing canopy door.

The side mirrors were replaced by cameras to improve the aerodynamics, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

The 2002 concept was built entirely from composite carbon-fibre reinforced material, with a reinforced plastic outer skin concealing a space frame constructed from lightweight magnesium.

But the CAR report says the production version will be a two-cylinder diesel unit, with a mild hybrid system that would allow full-electric operation under some circumstances.

ANI