Volkswagen's long awaited four-seat hybrid - the Up! Lite - broke cover at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The German manufacturer says the turbo-diesel electric hybrid is the world's most fuel efficient four-seater with the driver able to reduce engine power to 26kW by pushing the 'Eco' button to achieve economy of 2.44l/100kms. Emissions are claimed to be just 65g/km of CO2.
While the Up! Lite is a concept car, many of its technologies will feature in Volkswagen's all-new new Small Family models scheduled for launch late 2011.
Under the bonnet is a 0.8-litre TDI two-cylinder turbo-diesel engine - developed from Volkswagen's 1.6-litre TDI - developing up to 38kW of power and peak torque of 120Nm is delivered in the range of 1,800rpm - 2,250rpm.
The 10kW electric motor is a pulse-start module (starter, alternator and E-drive), integrated on a driveshaft between the engine and transmission which boosts the diesel engine in hard acceleration and recovers energy in regenerative braking. Like other hybrids, in many city driving environments, propulsion is provided exclusively via the electric motor with its lithium-ion batteries.
Drive is via seven-speed Direct Shift gearbox (DSG) and all-up the Up! Lite tips the scales at just 695 kgs. Top speed is a remarkable 160km/h and zero to 100km/h takes just 12.5 seconds.
Volkswagen pulled out all the stops to ensure the funky-looking Up! Lite is aerodynamic (Cd is just 0.237). For example, when the engine doesn't require cooling, the radiator grill automatically closes, windows are flush-fitting, there are few edges in the bodywork and there are no rear view mirrors - three cameras project the rearwards images to a central monitor.
Even the bonnet is not conventional - you just slide it a few centimeters forward for access to regularly required items like the radiator coolant, engine oil and windscreen washer fluid.
The range between refills is claimed to be more than 800 kilometers - very impressive considering the fuel tank capacity is just 20 litres.
Proportionally, the Up! Lite measures 3.84 metres in length - just fractionally smaller than the 3.98 metre Volkswagen Polo and looks somewhat similar to the Scirocco sporty hatchback. The 18-inch wheels are made from a combination of aluminium and carbon fibre.
To keep weight down, the 3.3 kgs roof is made from carbon fibre and the passenger compartment floor, spare wheel housing, front bulkhead, crossmembers and rear wheel housings are made from aluminium
Inside, before setting out on a journey, the driver can select the 'Eco' mode on the navigation system which then determines a route taking into account topography to make it theoretically possible to reach your destination via roads with maximum coasting opportunities.
Like some cars already launched (including the Toyota Prius), the Up! Lite has an electronic passive interior ventilation system but it doesn't vent around the C-pillar or wheel arches - instead it vents directly through an opening in the roof between the spoiler and tailgate - more thermodynamically efficient Volkswagen says.
Instrumentation has been kept to a minimum with the central 5.7-inch touchscreen providing all required information - but on-call, not all-day, everyday (saves power).
Folding the rear seat is achieved by touching the head-restraints - this activates a folding mechanism which boosts the Up! Lite's cargo capacity to an impressive 847 litres.
