Meet VW’s 100mpg coupé
AutoExpress - 27 October 2007
Flat out… new VW, unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show, will achieve more than 100mpg - and 143mph
It’s small, it’s fast, it’s frugal - and it’s coming to a VW dealer near you. These sensational official pictures reveal Volkswagen’s stunning new sportster
The model has broken all the moulds and become the undisputed star of the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show. Capable of an astonishing 100mpg on a clear road, yet still returning 83mpg on the combined cycle, the two-seater is more environmentally friendly than any rival.
But make no mistake - this is no boring eco-car. The 0-62mph sprint takes only 6.3 seconds and the VW will hit an amazing 143mph top speed. (Yes. It can beat both the Honda and the Turd Prius - Steve)
Called the EcoRacer, the concept has been built to prove that you really can have the best of both worlds. Jens Bobsien, VW’s PR chief, told Auto Express: “Everybody is keen on the idea of efficient cars, but no one can sell them on their economy alone. They have to be fun to drive, too.”
Powered by a 134bhp 1.5-litre turbo-diesel, the EcoRacer is the second VW to have fuel efficiency as its key selling point. Last time engineers focused on this, the result was the Lupo three litre, which was named after its ability to cover 100km on only three litres of fuel. Yet that model wasn’t a sales success, with only 3,000 shifted across Europe.
“The EcoRacer is a car to get people interested in low consumption,” Bobsien said. While bosses have not yet given the official green light for production, the newcomer is strongly tipped to become a showroom reality. With styling While that’s unique in the current VW line-up, the car breaks new ground for the company’s designers.
The gaping front grille and wide-set headlights give the tiny model an aggressive nose, while a thick C-pillar and chunky rear end are reminiscent of the Corrado coupé, axed in 1996.
So which sector of the sports car market is VW aiming at? Intended to gauge public reaction, the EcoRacer fits comfortably into three classes. With a unique removable roof, it can be converted from a hard-top coupé to a roadster to a fully open spider. When the hood is in place, two sections lift up to aid access to the cabin. The final production version is expected to have a more conventional roof mechanism, but bosses are keen to stress that it won’t be another Smart Roadster. “We wouldn’t build a machine like the Smart. We would only produce a sports car with a proper gearchange and involving handling,” Bobsien insisted.
The 850kg machine is made of carbon fibre, and its mid-mounted engine feeds power to the rear wheels. While the production version is expected to use a more traditional mechanical set-up, delivering an entertaining driving experience will be a priority. What’s more, as well as the frugal TDI diesel, Auto Express has been told the new 1.4-litre TSI supercharged and turbocharged engine would be “ideal” for use in this car. The final version is expected to arrive in showrooms in Britain within three years.
Chris Thorp
Source
AutoExpress
