Quote:
Originally Posted by aerohead
If Volkswagen hadn't lost it's compass long ago, the XL1 could have become the Strength Through Joy' car of the 21st-Century.
Mass produced by Wal Mart, COSCO, The Home Depot, or LOWE'S; in steel and glass, without any exotic materials, or hybrid drive, with only an entry-level, gasoline ICE engine, the car could be spit out at below KIA Rio prices.
It would only be 100-mpg HWY, but young couples would save enough for a mortgage on a tiny home. Minimum wage would be enough to finance one, even after necessities were met.
No advertising. No salesman. No dealerships. Purchased like a big screen television, or washing machine. Zero-down. Members drive it home from the store. Nationwide parts and service, anywhere.
Sixteen-year-olds could soon find them on the used car market.
Volkswagen AG, FUBAR.
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This^^^^
The old VW that gave us the original Beetle would have done this.
Of course, that VW didn't have to deal with the modern day federal automotive regulatory juggernaut.
I would have made it a simple 750cc twin, maybe even make it a hybrid with a modest, not terribly expensive battery. This would come in handy to give that small ICE a little low end grunt. I think giving it inline rather than side by side seating might have been a good idea as well. It might have gained a few pounds, but frontal area would have been much lower.