New 2009 VW 1 liter concept car

[Frank Lee]

**** dial-up!

[Old Tele man]

...why don't they just laser-form it using that plastic CAD-controlled "build-up" process?

...???

[basjoos]

I wish they had a video of it driving on a wet road so you could see the water spray/mist pattern kicked up by it.

[JasonG]

I was thinking a 3 wheel version would make the most sense.
Can't seem to find the pics but somebody home built a delta trike with tandem seating that was powered by a kubota diesel.
The 2 rear wheels on the 1L are so close it wouldnt affect handling.
As a bonus it would classify it as a motorcycle skirting a lot of safety test differences between Eorope and the USA.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

Going to a single rear wheel would have a huge affect on the stability -- because the front wheels are very close together! And, the entire design would have to be reworked: moving and reconfiguring the drive train, the rear seat, the width of the front track -- and just about everything would be affected.

And for what?

[Old Tele man]

...don't rollar skates also come in 2-wheel (inline) and 4-wheel (tandem) configurations as well?

[MetroMPG]

Just noticed something in the road/track test video: the vehicle has a single scissor-type side door (a la Lamborghini), rather than the top opening canopy. Oh, and it also appears to require temporary suction cups to open that side door.

Reading comments on various sites that covered this vehicle, the #1 concern seems to be: "YOU'LL BE SQUASHED LIKE A BUG IN THAT THING!", followed closely by dislike for the top canopy door on the Geneva concept vehicle, e.g. "what happens when you have to get in or out in the pouring rain?"

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

The VW 1L and the Loremo each present and interesting engineering solution/compromise to getting a light weight and safe vehicle -- they each "solve" this by changing to an unconventional entry door(s).

Personally, I think there are better engineering solutions, that keep the structural integrity and also have fewer compromises in terms of getting in and out of the vehicle in rain and/or snow and/or sleet. The most likely of these solutions is having several more latches on the door, so that it can be more a part of the structure of the vehicle, and the overall weight can be less than otherwise -- and you would have better crash strength; without giving up some conveniences.

[Jammer]

This is a most fascinating car, however it is not practical for the real world of driving as I know it.

#1: It does not look safe to me. The weight makes it sound like a car made of tin foil.
#2: At first the drivers of these cars no doubt will get pulled over by cops that don't know what on earth they are driving! (ok, that's a fine line)
#3: Most importantly, can ya just imagine trying to drive this thing in any sort of bad weather? A little rain and I would fear it losing traction, and we can not always predict when and where it will rain. Then lets say, it's December and you wake up to 10 inches of snow on the ground. Even with the roads cleared would YOU want to be driving this thing on snowy days?
#4: Those rear wheels are ripe for most anything to get STUCK between them and the wheel wall. Snow, mud, etc. could easily get packed in there causing a sever drag.

It would be cool to drive on nice dry summer days, just like many other cars. But I for one would hate to drive it in bad weather, nor would I feel very safe crashing it. It's weight is so light you would be "squashed like a bug" I have to agree.

I would like to see it test driven in bad weather. Otherwise it should be noted as being only a fair-weather only car. Nice on nice days, but it would seem dangerous in not so great weather, (imho).

[tjts1]

^^^ And thats why it will never see production no matter what VW claims ^^^