WOW, Volkswagon has produced a two-passenger concept car that gets 235 mpg.

[Lori675]

http://newmarksdoor.typepad.com/mainblog/cars/index.html Volkswagon has produced a two-passenger concept car that gets 235 mpg. Looks like something from the Jetsons.

Almost every automaker at the recent Tokyo Motor Show displayed good hybrid-electric prototypes, some getting more than 100 mpg. Volkswagen already sells Europeans a 78-mpg, four-seat nonhybrid subcompact and plans a two-seat city car for 2003 that will get 235 mpg (not a typo; VW is even testing a diesel version that gets the equivalent of 282 mpg). When cars are so fuel-frugal, powering them with fuel cells becomes a near-term option using current technology."

Here's pics of the car and its technology. It looks pretty cool http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/frame.php?file=car.php&carnum=1316

[myself6]

bookmark

[roaddog727]

Here are the specs.

WOW.

I gotta get me one of these.....

General specifications
Record last updated Before 12 / 01 / 2004
Country of origin Germany
Produced in 2002
Numbers built N/A (Prototype)
Body design N/A

Weight 290 kilo / 639.3 lbs

Drivetrain Engine SDI Diesel Straight 1
Engine Location Mid , transversely mounted

Displacement 0.299 liter / 18.2 cu in

Valvetrain 3 valves / cylinder, DOHC

Fuel feed Direct fuel injection

Aspiration Naturally Aspirated

Gearbox Electro-hydraulically actuated 6 speed Semi-automatic
Drive Rear wheel drive

Performance figures

Power 8 bhp / 6 KW @ 4000 rpm

Torque 18 Nm / 13 ft lbs @ 2000 rpm

BHP/Liter 27 bhp / liter

Power to weight ratio 0.03 bhp / kg

Top Speed 120 km/h / 75 mph

0-60 mph Acceleration N/A

[roaddog727]

Detroit needs to get their collective heads out of their collective A@@es and get on the stick.

Get the technology out on the market - don't moth-ball it on the shelf.

[chronic_loser]

actually, nascar is a stretch, but if they ever made it into production, someone would for sure figure out a way to soup it up and race it. It would be fun to watch.

[skinkinthegrass]

WOW!..an enclosed motorcycle

[JCEccles]

Last I heard, the Moeller skycar was still only doing tethered flights. Is it actually getting close to production?

[Orbiting_Rosie's_Head]

And they finally got rid of those pesky seatbelt laws, too.

[Fresh Wind]

The Messerschmitt flies again!

[GBA]

"The Volkswagen Bobsled."

Thanks! You just gave me my first FR laugh of the day.

[big'ol_freeper]

Yabba Dabba Do!!

[EQAndyBuzz]

"Why spend a fortune on this when you can buy a cheap car and spend the rest of the money on gas?"

I want a Cadillac that can do this.

[Quilla]

Years ago I was laying sod at my parent's home with Dizzy Dean's nephew. This boy's father had invented a carburetor that increased gas mileage to 100 mph. Exxon bought the patent. At least that's the story he shared in between the mantra - green side up!

[mvpel]

When the license plate is nearly as big as the car, you know you're hitting some upper limits in the world of automotive engineering.

[Ditter]

I had a 63 Karmin Ghia and a 79 VW Bettle, what kind of gas milage does your new Bettle get?

[TheJollyRoger]

How many bales of hay will fit into that thing?

[cloud8]

> Please note that your wife/date is going to have to sit in the back seat.

No room for any action back there either ;-)

[RosieCotton]

The concept is cool, but IMHO...dang that thing is ugly! Looks like a suppository.

[SeeRushToldU_So]

I wonder how crashworthy it is, though.

It doubles as a casket.Wreck and go straight to the graveyard and never leave your car.

[19th LA Inf]

this pill that you put in your fuel tank and it gives you 478 miles per gallon of water

A while back I read about a couple of pilots who were ferrying some old 4 engine prop airplane cross country. The outboard fuel tanks were bad order and empty. They stopped at several small airports, pulled up to the terminal and asked for a water hose. They would run 100 gallons or so into each tank, fire up and take off, LTAO.

[hopespringseternal]

But a diesel version that gets 282mph when in actuality gets 250mph it's a marvelous accomplishment.

No its not. If you are amazed that fuel economy scales directly with the size of the vehicle and its drag coefficient, then just wait until you see your first card trick.