Volkswagen One-Liter L1Volkswagen’s new L1 Concept was originally developed in concept form back in 2002, the L1 was designed along the premise of building the world’s first car capable of consuming just one liter of fuel for every 100 kilometers it traveled. With Volkswagen chairman Dr. Ferdinand Piech behind the wheel, the concept proved its merit as it drove from Wolfsburg to Hamburg in a public demonstration. Still, in 2002, VW was unable to make a production case for the L1, citing massive materials costs for the carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoque body. Still, Piech held out hope that the L1 would be production-viable one day.
VW has decided that the day is near, and will bring an updated version of the L1 Concept to the Frankfurt Motor Show this week. With plans for the L1′s production slated for 2013, VW will show the new concept in “near-production” form, with every component reengineered. The L1′s chassis is crafted partially from lightweight aluminum. VW claims the L1 weighs in at a scant 380 kgs with its CFRP body, and will accelerate to a top speed of just over 160 kph courtesy of its ultra-low drag coefficient of just 0.195. The L1 utilizes a 1L TDI diesel engine and a single electric motor in a full-hybrid configuration and consumes 1.38 liters of diesel for every 100 km it travels.
Other interesting touches include the cockpit layout, with the passenger seat directly behind that of the driver. Entrance and exit of the vehicle is made possible by the side-hinged roof canopy – similar in design to a glider. The L1′s general aerodynamic profile and seating configuration were also glider-inspired
