The Fascinating Evolution of Volkswagen's Scooter Concept

Weird ONES - The fleeting nature of concept cars often leaves them forgotten once their moment in the spotlight fades. These vehicles, especially those with unique or eccentric designs, are frequently destroyed. This harsh reality means that even beautiful cars can be scrapped, let alone the odd ones. Today, we dive into the story of an unusual and unique concept vehicle from Volkswagen, known as the Scooter Concept. Unlike many other concept cars, the Scooter had a different fate, as it was later developed further and realized as the production version called the Volkswagen XL1 in 2013.

The Volkswagen Scooter Concept was created by the German manufacturer as part of its efforts to develop energy-efficient vehicles. (Picture from: MotorAuthority)

In the mid-80s, considered a "golden era" for the automobile industry, Group B, Group C, and turbocharged Formula 1 cars promised a bright future for gasoline enthusiasts. However, leading automobile companies began to realize that this golden era would not last forever. Volkswagen was one such company, increasingly paying attention to experimental cars with minimal energy consumption.

Design sketch of the Volkswagen Scooter Concept, envisioned as an energy-efficient three-wheeled vehicle. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

A small group of Volkswagen engineers envisioned a future problem and sought to address it. Their idea was to create a car with minimal aerodynamic drag, modest curb weight, high maneuverability, and decent dynamics. Additionally, the car needed to be equipped with a maximum of a 4-cylinder engine with a working volume of up to 1.4 liters and be stylish enough to attract a young audience.

The Volkswagen Scooter Concept featured minimal aerodynamic drag, modest curb weight, high maneuverability, and decent dynamics. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

This project was created in secret from the top management, which was quite unusual for a German company. By 1986, the car was ready, and it was bold for Volkswagen. With three wheels, a streamlined front end, and gull-wing doors, the Scooter stood out among the Golfs and Passats of that time, resembling a spaceship more than a conventional car.

The Volkswagen Scooter Concept derived its name from a scooter, reflecting its small size and agility. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

The Scooter concept derived its name from a scooter, reflecting its small size and agility. Despite its compact design, the cabin could accommodate two adult riders and had space for a small suitcase behind the seats, making it a practical city vehicle. The unique three-wheeled concept was presented at the 1986 Geneva Motor Show, showcasing Volkswagen's ambition to create a fuel-efficient city vehicle with sporty performance and innovative styling.

The Volkswagen Scooter Concept, with its three wheels, streamlined front end, and gull-wing doors, resembled a spaceship more than a conventional car, standing out among the Golfs and Passats of that time. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

The Scooter concept was a two-seater coupé with gull-wing doors and was powered by a front-mounted four-cylinder engine. This engine, with a displacement of 1 liter, produced 40 bhp at 5300 rpm and 74 Nm of torque at 2700 rpm. The power was delivered to the front wheels through a four-speed manual transmission. Weighing just 635 kg, the Scooter promised excellent fuel efficiency and agile performance.

The Volkswagen Scooter Concept's cabin could accommodate two adult riders and had space for a small suitcase behind the seats, making it a practical city vehicle. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

The Scooter's front suspension architecture was borrowed from the Polo of that time, ensuring a balance between performance and comfort. The press release indicated that the car was equipped with two engines, the most economical being a 1-liter engine producing 41 horsepower, while the more powerful 1.4-liter engine developed 90 horsepower, enabling the Scooter to accelerate to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 220 km/h.

The Volkswagen Scooter Concept was powered by two engine options: a 1-liter engine producing 41 horsepower and a 1.4-liter engine delivering 90 horsepower. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

However, road tests revealed that while the Scooter was indeed very economical, with the 90-horsepower engine consuming only 4.7 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers, it was never pushed to its maximum speed. The car's drag coefficient of 0.25, similar to the Audi A2, contributed to its efficiency.

The Volkswagen XL1 (VW 1-Litre) is a two-seat limited-production vehicle, with only 250 units produced starting in mid-2013, representing the evolution of the Volkswagen Scooter Concept. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

Despite public interest, Volkswagen was hesitant to release such a radical and unconventional car. Nonetheless, the concept of a compact, super-economical car was considered for future projects, albeit without the sporty factor. The first successor to the Scooter, created by Ferdinand Piech, appeared in 2002 as the Volkswagen 1 Liter Car, which was then produced as the limited edition Volkswagen XL1 in 2013, with only 250 units made. | UmRTX_Hr7Ls |

The Volkswagen Scooter concept remains a fascinating chapter in the history of automotive innovation. It showcased bold ideas and forward-thinking design, serving as an example of the endless possibilities that concept cars represent. Though it never made it to production, its legacy lives on as a testament to creativity and experimentation in the automotive industry. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MOTORAUTHORITY | STORY-CARS | CARSTYLING.RU | WIKIPEDIA ]

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