New reports are emerging that indicate Volkswagen has internally approved a project to bring its 1-Litre concept car to production by 2010. The tiny, tandem-seated car has received some changes to its basic powertrain configuration but it is still expected to return fuel consumption in line with its name - less than 1L/100km. The decision is not yet official, but if the reports prove true, the 1-Litre could reshape the face of the production car industry.

Unfortunately for Australians feeling the pinch at the pump, it is unlikely that the car will be made available on our roads because of differing design standards and the car’s expected limited-edition production run. Nevertheless, it does illustrate what can be done with the latest in efficient technology and design, and may presage the future of VW’s global products.

Not expected to sell in huge volumes
Discussing the car’s sales potential last year, Winterkorn stressed that the 1-Liter “would not be a best seller” and thus will only be produced in limited numbers. Its body will be constructed from carbon fibre, plastic and magnesium. The high-tech nature means assembly is tipped to take place in VW’s prototype shop, which can only produce 1,000 cars per year at full tilt.

At last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show senior VW exec Ferdinand Piëch claimed the car would be available by the end of the decade and a month later, CEO Martin Winterkorn backed up the claim as well as providing some of the production details. The latest reports indicate the car might not be a single-cylinder petrol design like the concept, but a two-cylinder diesel-electric mild hybrid.

Highly efficient but still practical
Top speed with the one-cylinder 0.3-litre engine of the 2002 1-Liter concept was expected to be around 120km/h with average fuel consumption around the 1L/100km mark - fast enough to see highway use and efficient enough to make even long trips affordable.

Those numbers aren’t expected to change much with the shift to the diesel hybrid design. The change is expected to add drivability and low-end acceleration to the car, although its lightweight will also make easy work for even the small engine and motor combination.

The vehicle’s weight is estimated to be a mere 300kg thanks to its small size, tandem seating configuration and lightweight construction. That would make the car a very difficult structure to secure in the event of an accident, especially with the panoramic fighter-jet style canopy over the occupants and the very low profile of the car. VW seems confident that it will be able to produce and certify the car for on-road use, however.

Pricing is expected to fall somewhere between €20,000 and €30,000 ($41,200 to $61,800).

Production Volkswagen 1 Litre rendering

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