Auto Industry reports that Volkswagen is set to roll out a new line of small cars, codenamed “New Small Family" (NSF). VW expects sales of the first gen NSF to top 4.16 million units during its nine-year lifecycle. Last week, the Rheinische Post reported that VW Group CEO Martin Winterkorn told delegates at a International Iron & Steel Institute conference that VeeDub was developing a version of the 2005 prototype ‘1-litre’ VW two-seater car for 2010. Winterkorn confessed that the car “would not be a world-beater in sales terms, but would set new technical standards for light weight and offering low CO2 emissions.” While VW abandoned its plans for a “super economy” car back in 2005, rising oil prices have inspired them to reconsider. Oil topped $86 per barrel yesterday; economist Jeff Rubin predicts $100 per barrel oil could “become normal” as early as 2008, with rising gas prices to match. If so, any automaker without a line of seriously efficient automobiles will be in serious trouble.
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I’ve wanted a 1 litre car since I first saw it. Even a 3 litre Lupo would be great, but that’s now out of production. I’m guessing they won’t sell them in the US, but if they do, someone at VWoA might need to tell the fatherland what NSF typically means over here. Hopefully they won’t create a Nova situation.
Seriously, I’m pretty close to a VW hater and all, what with crud-pot reliability, etc., but every time that Winterkorn says something, I listen. With a name like that, he’s like the coolest CEO in the world. Winterkorn ftw!
If so, any automaker without a line of seriously efficient automobiles will be in serious trouble.
GM? Actually, the old 3 cylinder Sprint got extraordinary mileage and was eminently reliable. (Realizing their error, GM panicked and pulled the plug.)
Every dollar rise in oil prices adds about 2.5 cents to raw material costs of a gallon of gasoline. So, if crude jumps from, say $70/barrel to $150/barrel, the crude oil component of a gallon of gasoline will increase by $2. In the USA and in Europe, we could expect gasoline prices to rise by somewhat more than $2. However, much of the cost of fuel in Europe is a per-gallon tax of about $3.50/gallon; the VAT tax adds another 17% to 19% depending on the country. So, a $2 increase will take fuel from $7/gallon to about $9.50/gallon–a mere 36% increase.
In the USA, however, we are looking at an increase from $2.75 to $4.90–a 78% change. Fortunately, here in the USA there are lots of easy ways to save fuel. (Well, if buying a new car is considered “easy.”)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_tax
Would the wagon version be NSFW?
Sorry, too much time reading Jalopnik…
This is a joke. It is basically a motor scooter with an aerodynamic cover. It would take a crane and a chiropractor to get me in and out of it. It will not be relevant unless and until they produce a model that adults can get in and out of without contortions or other undue effort.