Aluminium Compact
At the 42nd Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Volkswagen AG in Hamburg, the most economical car in the world is presented: the 1-litre car. The prototype, which until now has been kept closely under wraps, and which many people never believed could be built, was driven under its own power from Wolfs burg to the Annual Meeting in Hamburg.
Before the Annual Meeting, the current Chairman of the Board of Management, Dr. Ferdinand Piëch, drove this research vehicle to Hamburg from the company’s headquarters at an average fuel consumption of 0.89 liters per 100 kilometers. This has once against impressively demonstrated Volkswagen’s position at the cutting edge of modern technology.
The objective of developing a roadworthy vehicle that consumes just 1.0 liter of fuel per 100 kilometers could not be achieved through compromise. All existing technical solutions were examined, and in close cooperation with numerous suppliers, replaced by better, and principally lighter versions. The result is a vehicle that looks more like a sports car than a typical research vehicle.
The conceptual necessity for a small frontal area led to an unusually narrow and very flat body form being chosen. The body was developed in a wind tunnel, is 3.47 meters long, but just 1.25 meters wide and just over a meter in height, and is made completely of carbon fibre composites. To save weight, it is of course not painted.
The carbon-fiber-reinforced outer skin is tensioned over a space frame that is not made of aluminium, but rather of magnesium, which is even lighter. The 1-litre car is powered by a one-cylinder diesel engine, centrally positioned in front of the rear axle and combined
with an automated direct shift gearbox. The crankcase and cylinder head of the 0.3-litre engine are of an aluminium monobloc construction. The naturally aspirated, direct-injection diesel engine employs advanced high-pressure unit injection technology to generate 6.3 kW (8.5 bhp) at 4,000 rpm. This gives the vehicle, which weights just 290 kg, an astonishingly lively temperament.
Fuel consumption is a mere 0.99-liter per 100 kilometers. With a 6.5-litre tank, this gives a range of some 650 kilometers without refueling. Due to the restriction of space, it was not possible to adapt an existing gearbox. For this reason, a compact, automated 6-speed gearbox is employed, which is controlled from a turn switch in the cockpit.
Running gear made of lightweight alloy, tyres that offer optimized rolling resistance and 16-inch wheels made of extremely lightweight composite material perfectly complement the economical drive system. The interior is sportingly simple in design, yet offers enough space for two people, who can comfortably get in after folding back the turret-like gullwing door.
An extremely lightweight construction has also been employed for the seats. The seat frames are made of magnesium, and firm, yet comfortable fabric covers are used instead of classic upholstery. Despite the lightweight construction of all components, safety has been a major element in all phases of the development of the 1-litre car. For example, the concept vehicle’s safety equipment includes anti-lock brakes, ESP electronic stability program and a driver’s airbag. Deformation elements at the front end and the space frame construction provide impact and rollover protection comparable to that of a GT racing car.
The sports-car-like design demonstrates that Volkswagen’s 1-litre car is not a Spartan research vehicle, but a high-tech special vehicle. It starts with the special seating arrangement. The driver and passenger sit centrally as if in a monoposto, but in tandem. The mid-engine is installed transversely in front of the rear axle. With its complex design (double wishbones at front, DeDion suspension at rear) and combined with the low centre of gravity and low overall vehicle weight, the lightweight running gear results in very agile handling.
The project team has impressively succeeded in combining driving pleasure with a level of fuel consumption never seen before. The 1-litre car also incorporates numerous details of a practical and convenient nature. For example, there is an easily accessible stowage compartment with a capacity of 80 liters under a separate flap in the rear; a reversing camera that helps when maneuvering; automatic locking/unlocking of the gullwing door and a starter button in the cockpit that together allow keyless operation.
The concept of the 1-litre car – four wheels, low height, with two seats in tandem – gives an idea for a possible new family of vehicles, which could cover new requirements ranging from the ultra-economical vehicle, through the low-lost everyday touring vehicle for young people to the high-performance sports super car.
Syeda Mahwish Fatima Naqvi writing Articles, Features, Columns and Letters for different newspapers, Magazine and Websites. Working as a Content Writer.
Hiking / Mountaineering Cookware suggestions?
Hia, I need to upgrade my kitchen with something more suitable as long as I was, using some aluminum mess tins, I bought cheap and although light, there is very low and a little pain, I want something in titanium in the ideal, but I have no idea what would be best for me. I have a bag of 35 days per liter at midnight, even if I do not intend to get something bigger when I can, but for now I've mostly day hikes, new cookware must be robust, lightweight, compact and adapted for the winter and mountaineering summer. Can anyone offer me suggestions that would work well and why? Thank you.
hey! About titaum msr enabled, you want definalty to go with the titaum it heats quickly and cools more quickly, which is somthing you need when you melt all very close quickly, seriously, it is easy to replace a hot skillet for $ 400 jacket you goretext if you've got the right equipment net is the thing what that you need because obviously hiking yes? Mountaineering perhaps? for hiking, I would go with the Full Monty, pots and jars with lids and removable handle is a great bonus (most packages and can easily cook a couple DIFFER things at once) for a mountaineering weight weight weight … I Perhaps a small saucepan of 2.5 liters or less, and that's all I use I go by the theory of light and fast, the content of my diet 2-3 to climb includes 1 jar of about 2.5 liters 1 POCKET ROCKET MSR camping stove w / 2 tanks of 2 soup cans (cans so I prefer dreid the Real Stuff Gel is lighter but still not as tasty or cheap as Progresso) 4 W oatmeasl and blueberries and various fruits and dried meats So, as you can see when you shoot heights you really eat all that well, not like when you walk at a time when you can make pancakes and eggs and all that other beautiful young yea can buy online MSR pot and pan set get one that has the 3 size differs pots and 2 pans with removable handle and Rei to buy their policy back to life on something for anyreason So if you use it for 2 seasons and that it or he scratches or what ever you can resume a full exchange and backlite series is very good and also if you are looking for a stove pocket rocket is the best that the fuel container is in the right flank of a 2-liter pot with the rocket so that the only area taken is that of the pot i have a package 50 liters and grew most of my 140 peaks with her, including Glacier Peak (a trip of 5 days) and Mount Rainer just 2 day excursion
