One liter of fuel for one thousand kilometers used to be only a dream. But now that Volkswagen has come up with the L1 concept car, this dream has become something very real. The company says the L1 is close to production and this could only mean that it expects a huge demand for the car. It adds that for this car to become commercially viable, there has to be three things: a supremely efficient powertrain, great aerodynamics, and light engineering.The L1 commercial car is going to be a hybrid, likely using a two-cylinder, 39-hp turbo-diesel engine combined with a 14-hp electric motor. It's also going to have a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Technically, it can reach a speed of 100 kph but fuel economy is sacrificed here with the engine burning 1.38 liters per hundred kilometers.
The superb aerodynamics of the L1 is possible because it is slim, so slim it's described as cigar-shaped. Instead of having the seats side by side in pairs, they're lined up like in a jet fighter. It's also quite low which keeps air resistance minimum in the undercarriage.
The light weight of the L1 is achieved with the use of a carbon fiber body, thus much of the weight comes from the engine and chassis. The total weight of the car is less than a ton at 838 pounds. As it is, the physical design of the L1 might not be appealing to a wide audience, but it's the idea of a super fuel-efficient vehicle that's the main attraction. With just a little tweaking of the Volkswagen design engineers, they can make a new commercial L1 (the L2?) which will be more down-to-earth and family-friendly.
We can expect other companies to follow the example of Volkswagen and see more of this kind of 1- liter car.
Take this green bag along when you go out in your new hybrid car. It's because your driving a hybrid says a lot about you (or your wife) as someone who cares for the environment. It's durable, reusable, and affordable, too! So, get yours now by clicking here or on the image above.
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