Mel46 wrote:I have a question to contemplate. If the VW XL1 can get 260 mpg, why can't VW take what they have learned from building it and apply those to more fuel efficient production cars? Wouldn't it make more sense to have 100,000 cars that get 100 mpg than 1 car that gets 260 mpg? After all, even if the XL1 goes into production it will not appeal to a large audience. But a VW Beetle with a turbo diesel that gets 100 mpg could become a standard for many drivers in places like Europe, and even here in the U.S., where we are starting to feel the pinch of high fuel costs.
Because Carbon Fiber is costly, not to mention the XL1 gets 260mpg because its essentially a diesel electrc scooter with two seats and a cage. The 0-60 in 11.5-seconds is dangerously slow for most highway commuting, hell you can't even merge safely with something that slow nowadays.
They do have 99MPG capable Audi A2s (imperial cycle) TDIs, but they are so god awfully slow and would never sell in the US. Americans want amenities and safe vehicles to combat massive SUVs, yes a CRX was able to get 40MPG back in the late 80s, but if you crash it head on with a modern compact car, it would turn into a metal scrap cube. I don't really feel the fuel pinch here, gas prices are almost down to $3 a gallon. It was $3.18 last I checked, and thats in WA where we have added fuel taxes.