FRANKFURT, Germany — The Volkswagen L1 concept, images of which were released this weekend in Germany, will be formally unveiled this week at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, with the astonishing news that its tiny 30-horsepower two-cylinder diesel enables it to achieve nearly 200 miles per gallon.
The original VW concept aimed to be the world's first "1-liter car" — a reference to the target of consuming only one liter of fuel per 100 kilometers, or the equivalent of 235 mpg.
The latest VW L1 comes mighty close, achieving 1.2 liters per 100 km, or the equivalent of 196 mpg, thanks to the ultra-efficient diesel, a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission and a variety of weight-saving techniques that reduce the vehicle's curb weight to a mere 838 pounds.
The slippery plastic-bodied car is designed to accommodate a driver and passenger sitting in tandem.
Inside Line says: VW proves that 200 mpg is not as elusive as once thought — and that's real-world mileage, not the faux numbers being ascribed to the Chevrolet Volt. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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