X-Prize wants 100 mpg? Pfft! Try 235.

[Dingfod]

The Progressive X-prize is offering $10 million to anyone that can demonstrate a safe automobile which is capable of being manufactured in quantities over 10,000 units per year and gets over 100 mpg in real-world conditions. It also has to be capable of emitting less than 200 g/mi of CO2 and no more other Green House gases than other automobiles, meet U.S. and other country safety standards, and must be desirable, something people would buy.

Volkswagen is well-ahead of the game, they introduced the One Liter six years ago, the 660 pound carbon-fiber prototype powered by a 8.5 horsepower diesel, is capable of 235 mpg (U.S. gallon). Volkswagen estimated carbon fiber would get less expensive over time, predicting it would be feasible by 2012. They're not waiting for the X-prize, they expect to make 1000 of them for sale in 2010, with a more powerful turbo-diesel and hybrid technology, selling for between $32,000 and $49,000.

Meet the future of commuter transportation:

[Kyuss Apollo]

I wanted the flying car!

[Dingfod]

So did I, but a VW One Liter will work for me. Imagine, driving to and from work, 11 miles each way, it would be 10 days before I would need another gallon of fuel. That's cheaper than the Power Bars and bottled water I would need to bicycle that distance once.

[ceptimus]

BBC NEWS | Technology | Sinclair dreams of 'flying cars'

I wonder why they chose the licence plate 'Wobble' for that eco-car

[Dingfod]

WOB = Wolfsburg
L = random letter so they don't need as many numbers.

[But]

L 1 = 1 liter, I guess.

[Stormlight]

Yeah, but the headlights don't seem to work!

[But]

The driver has just turned them off to save fuel.

[Stormlight]

[Dingfod]

You can buy a car right now that gets 376 mpg. You need not worry about parking lot dings either, it's an old beater, a 1959 Opel, slightly modified.

[Anastasia Beaverhausen]

Aw, the VW is adorable!

[Clutch Munny]

Originally Posted by Dingfod

So did I, but a VW One Liter will work for me. Imagine, driving to and from work, 11 miles each way, it would be 10 days before I would need another gallon of fuel. That's cheaper than the Power Bars and bottled water I would need to bicycle that distance once.

Fewer noxious emissions, too.

[Clutch Munny]

I extrapolate from my own case, let me say.

[Ensign Steve]

I don't know about that vdub. Wth all the trucks and suv's and "crossover" vehicles, I feel nothing short of invisible in my civic. Yes, my fire-engine red civic with the daytime running lights. If everybody drove tiny cars, though, it would be cool. Like little go-carts. Make parking and stuff easier, too.

[Kael]

I drove a Geo Metro, 4-door hatchback, manual. I liked that car, it got great gas mileage. Had no power at all, though, I couldn't even get to the trailhead for my favorite hike (I live surrounded by mountains and wouldn't have it any other way), the hill was too steep. That'd be the main qualm I would have about buying a little bug-car like that. Well, I'd also want to be able to haul anything bigger than a backpack once in a while.

Still, I wouldn't have a problem with using it as my around-town car, or for to and from work, though I'd prefer a motorcycle.