Volkswagen’s New 300 MPG Car Not Allowed In America Because It Is Too Efficient

[NeilBlanchard]

Crash testing a car that will have a production run of ~250 would not be feasible. And it has side video mirrors - which hopefully will be allowed, soon - but VW is not going to fight it over the XL1.

I suggest moving it to the Unicorn Corral.

[Thenorm]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Dougie must have forgotten from last time that we didn't all just fall off the turnip truck.

and here is a turnip truck

[Frank Lee]

Yup! And I didn't fall off it!

[Vman455]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Crash testing a car that will have a production run of ~250 would not be feasible. And it has side video mirrors - which hopefully will be allowed, soon - but VW is not going to fight it over the XL1.

I suggest moving it to the Unicorn Corral.

VW claims on their website that the XL1 "fulfills all safety requirements," so it must have been crash-tested at some point. The problem is, the US requires different crash tests, which would not be feasible for a car with such a limited production run and no plans to market in the US. Planet Money had a podcast recently on this issue, in which they interviewed a Cadillac executive who complained about the dichotomy in regulations between the US and Europe. It was quite interesting.

[NeilBlanchard]

It might well meet the crash requirements - but they would have to provide cars for official testing.

[bhtooefr]

Now, one way around the crash testing requirements would be to launch the cars under an unrelated company that produces under 10,000 cars a year, and then apply for a hardship exemption with the NHTSA.

Another way would be to have assembly be a dealer-installed option, but with VW dealers, that thought absolutely horrifies me.

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by bhtooefr

Now, one way around the crash testing requirements would be to launch the cars under an unrelated company that produces under 10,000 cars a year, and then apply for a hardship exemption with the NHTSA.

Another way would be to have assembly be a dealer-installed option, but with VW dealers, that thought absolutely horrifies me.

Yeah, I can just imagine illiterate AMERICAN VW monkey wrenchers attempting to read & comprehend GERMAN instructions (wink,wink)!

[UltArc]

*sigh*

We Drove The 261 MPG Volkswagen XL1 In Manhattan Because You Can't

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by UltArc

*sigh*

...sorta like watching Bridget Bardot or Sophia Loren stroll by in a swim suit back in their hey-day, ain't it?

[Fat Charlie]

Yep, it's all about corporate profits. Not Hexxagon's, Volkswagen's. They gain more from just having this car in their lineup than they'll ever make actually selling it. Hardly a conspiracy.