Frankfurt Motor Show: VW launches 139mpg roadster concept

Updated



Autoblog's Will Powell reports from the Frankfurt Motor Show

This is the L1, a two-seat roadster concept and the latest super-low CO2 car from Volkswagen. The German giant is determined to bring this idea to the market in some form by 2013, although its likely to have four seats and a coupe like body eventually.

But this concept model will return a staggering 189mpg and has CO2 emissions of just 39g/km.

It's as low as a Lamborghini but only as long as a Fiat 500, and is powered by an 800cc two stroke diesel engine with just 29bhp. The proportions and styling make it incredibly aerodynamic (drag coefficient is just 0.195) and very light (a teeny 350kg).

The modest engine is paired with an electric motor that kicks in to boost torque when harder acceleration is needed. That means the L1 can reach a claimed top speed of 99mph and manage 0-62mph in 14.3 seconds.

"The whole project is being pitched as a possible production car for around 2013," said a VW communications man.

In the past a project like this would have been impossible to bring to production. But Volkswagen's head of concept cars told us that advances carbon fibre construction techniques (a material that is not only very strong but lightweight) has made the potential manufacturing process much more cost effective for mass production. We wouldn't be surprised to see a version of the L1 breaking all economy records in 2013.

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