03 July 2008

Here's that 200-mpg Volkswagen



Full details in this Wired article. Salient features as follows:
"The body's made of carbon fiber to minimize weight (the entire car weighs just 660 pounds)… made extensive use of magnesium, titanium and aluminum to bring it in at less than one-third the weight of a Toyota Echo…

…aerodynamics plays a big role… long and low, coming in at 11.4 feet long, 4.1 feet wide and 3.3 feet tall. It features an aircraft-like canopy, flat wheel covers and a belly pan to smooth the airflow under the car. The engine cooling vents open only when needed, and video cameras take the place of mirrors. The passenger sits behind the driver to keep the car narrow…

The engine turns off at stop lights to save fuel, then automatically restarts when the driver depresses the accelerator pedal…

The car reportedly has anti-lock brakes, stability control and airbags…

… a sticker price of anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 Euros (about $31,750 to $47,622)…
I'm not all that excited. It's more like a motorcycle than a car, doesn't even have room for a couple bags of groceries, would be laughably ineffective on snow and ice, and is priced as a toy for the wealthy.

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