Although fuel prices have retreated from their record highs just a few months ago, Volkswagen is fast tracking a new city car. The new model will slot beneath the forthcoming VW Up! and promises to return some astronomically high fuel economy figures.
The new model – which will reportedly be called the ‘Chico’ – will be built on the Up!’s architecture, but will closer match Smart’s ForTwo and Toyota’s iQ in size.
Thanks to its modified chassis, VW engineers were actually able to make the Chico narrower and lower than the Up!, resulting in better aerodynamics. “The Up! has a tall design and as a result there are limits to its overall aerodynamic performance,” VW chairman Martin Winterkorn told Autocar. “Our newest car is a good deal lower and because of this it carries a lot less drag.”
Because of its slippery exterior, VW is predicting the Chico will return a class-leading 141 mpg while only emitting 60 g/km of CO2.
Of course the car’s exterior is only part of the equation, with engine start/stop technology, low roll resistant tires and a highly efficient engine also contributing to the Chico’s extraordinary fuel economy.
VW engineers originally planned to power the Chico with a two-cylinder powerplant, but quickly discovered the revs needed for acceleration off the line canceled out any mileage gains on the top end. Instead, the Chico will come equipped with either a direct-injected 1.2L four-cylinder gasoline powerplant or a three-cylinder common rail diesel. An all-electric version is also under development.
Although the Chico won’t likely make it to U.S. shores – then again, you never know – the tiny city car is expected to hit UK showrooms in 2011 with a price tag of £6,000.
11/26, 3:18 PM
posted by:
Ketzer
Of course it won’t come here, we have an abundance of Escalades and Hummers. We don’t need small, super efficent vehicles. They get in the way of our egos.
11/26, 4:05 PM
posted by:
swamp donkey
141 mpg!!! Is this number correct? I would love to see this in person.
11/26, 4:28 PM
posted by:
Fastcarguy
And it’ll likely be even slower than the smart ForTwo, which does 0-60 in 14.4.
I want something fuel-efficient and fast.
11/26, 4:41 PM
posted by:
Fastcarguy
But as a practical vehicle it’ll be good if the claims are true.
11/26, 5:17 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Who the hell names VWs?
….. Touaerag
….. Routan
….. Passat
….. Chico???
They should be consistent and call it the VW Chouaekananegg.
No one will know what it is anyway, because being a VW the badge will fall off in 4000 miles.
11/26, 7:25 PM
posted by:
Gundy
HAA, no foolin’, that’s classic. Actually, who names _any_ cars anymore, they’re either totally nonsensical (Prius, Camary), or place names (Colorado, Tahoe), or letters & numbers jumbled up, usually with either an X or a Z, or both. But I digress.. I’d buy one of these VW’s for sure. It would be a great 7-month vehicle for Minneapolis. I’m not sure how it would work in the winter though, but 100+ mpg for $10,000 or less? Sign me up.
11/26, 7:26 PM
posted by:
Gundy
son of a.. sorry about the _’s, I was hoping that was for italics, meatball gundy.
11/26, 7:37 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
New for 2011… the VW ZRX Type T!
11/26, 7:42 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I’d rather test the Home Lobotomy Kit and then warm up the back bench on the short bus.
11/26, 9:06 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Can’t they name is a Chica? Last thing I wanna do is pop myself in some chico for a fun ride.
11/26, 11:26 PM
posted by:
maxcar
i liked the old vw naming convention based on winds and ocean currents;
jetta = jet stream
golf = gulf stream
passat = passat winds
scirocco = sirocco winds
etc.
11/27, 1:14 AM
posted by:
A4
if only they would bring it to the US… you think with our recent jump for inexpensive fuel efficiency they would be designing this from the outset for our shores