The Volkswagen L1 Concept has been making the rounds since 2002, and the latest iteration unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show is being dubbed the most-fuel efficient automobile in the world by VW’s PR department. The L1 — so dubbed because it can travel 100 km on 1.4 liters of gas — features a carbon fiber and plastic body that weighs just 380 kg, and a 0.8 liter TDI engine allied to a 10kW electric motor. The whole package, including stop/start, a low coefficient of drag, and tandem seating, creates a car that emits just 36 g of CO2 per km, which translates to 173 mpg. VW is hinting that the L1 isn’t far from production ready, and that it could see the light of day in 2013.
Contact: Jill Bratina, Director, Corporate Communications, Volkswagen Group of America, (703) 364-7250, [email protected], www.vw.com.