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VW May Sell a $17 K Three-Wheeler

Written by Hank Green on 25/04/08


Volkswagon has developed, and is looking at possibly selling, a two-seat, three-wheeled, uh...car? The vehicle is pretty much 100% engine...though it's so small that even a 1.6 liter engine pretty much fills up the 1,600 lb car.

As a concept I find it enticing. Of course, VW has focused on performance instead of the environment with this design. The little car (sans roof) will get you to sixty MPH in under six seconds. But, even with that exciting performance curve, the small engine and light weight makes the car far more efficient than its competitors at 46 MPG.

But if they gave this thing a Smart Car engine, it would likely get far beyond 60 MPG. The problem, of course, is that the car isn't built to be practical...it's built to be fun. And while I'm not gonna say I don't want to drive one of these things, It's not exactly green.

Via Ecomodder

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written by Dave, April 26, 2008
This is a old VW concept from 2006 called the "GX3". VW did look at what it would take to produce this Motorcycle for a bit but decided it wasn't worth it to do all the retooling, possible alienation of VW target market and safety issues/law suits . Yes this is motorcycle anything will less the 4 wheels is a motorcycle and would require a motorcycle license to drive. So sorry to burst your bubble but this wont be produced
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Why not?
written by Tom, April 26, 2008
it seems like it would be a good money maker for VW, and good alternative to a normal car. If a CRD from a lupo were put in the GX3 it would probably get upwards of 60 mpg. I could not even begin to comprehend why this trike would alienate VW customers.
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written by Dave, April 26, 2008
Ya I wouldn't think it would alienate people either. It would probably get me to come in to a dealership just to check it out. Maybe they thought the GX3 would take away resources from the rest of their lineup. Really the biggest reason was safety or the fact that VW was concerned about lawsuits and to make the motorcycle "safe enough" where they felt they wouldn't get lawsuits brought against them when drivers crashed these things would have changed the design enough and driven up the cost to where they were out of the intended market. Its still a really cool design only thing like it is the T-rex motorcycle which doesn't have as refined a look.
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written by Bob Wallace, April 26, 2008
Honda sells cars and motorcycles.

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written by Baumm III, April 28, 2008
This was cancelled in 2006 - no comment!
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1L car coming soon
written by 1L Car, April 28, 2008
VW may have something better than this in its sleeve. I am referring to the '1-litre car', supposed to enter a limited production in 2010.

Maybe not as fast and fun as this terminated project, the 1-litre car has nevertheless great fuel economy. Hopefully it won't be too pricey.
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Type
written by Mike O, April 28, 2008
Volkswagen not Volkswagon

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