VW abandons super-economy car project...

Andy_T4 · Apr 15, 2005

GERMANY: Volkswagen abandons super-economy car project
15 Apr 2005

Volkswagen reportedly has abandoned its costly effort to develop a 'super-economy car', admitting that there is no mass market for the product even at current high petrol prices.

According to the Daily Telegraph, VW CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder said the two-seater vehicle, which is shaped like the cabin of a Messerschmitt fighter, had little chance of ever making money. "The vehicle can't be produced at a reasonable cost," he reportedly said.

The report said the carbon-fibre car is designed to drive more than 60 miles on a single litre of diesel (almost 300 miles per gallon), and can reach speeds of up to 75mph - 20 engineers have been working on the high priority project for the last three years, though only a handful of prototypes have ever been built.

Volkswagen said it could not produce the 0.3 litre engine car for less than 20,000 (13,600) each, putting it beyond the range of potential buyers, the Daily Telegraph said, noting that the failure of the project is a fresh setback for Europe's biggest car maker after a string of poor results - profits fell 31% last year as the German economy stalled and the strong euro eroded margins in the US.

The paper added that Volkswagen would continue producing its fuel-saving Lupo TDI, which can do more than 20 miles per litre, even though it is being sold at a cost of around 15,000.

The company reportedly said it always knew there would be a limited market for a costly prototype built with exotic materials and technology, but had hoped the project would spin off a viable super-economy model for ordinary buyers. So far it has not.

"People just won't pay these sorts of prices to get a few extra miles of fuel efficiency, but it's another matter if the price of fuel really shoots up," a VW spokesman told the Daily Telegraph.
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prof · Apr 15, 2005

shame, i reckon economy is the new benchmark, 200mph i'm not impressed 200mpg, now i'm interested

octane · Apr 15, 2005

sounds good too!

AlexB · Apr 15, 2005

prof said:

shame, i reckon economy is the new benchmark, 200mph i'm not impressed 200mpg, now i'm interested
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cheap b*stard. LOL

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VW abandons super-economy car project...

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