Volkswagen GX3: 3 Wheels, 46 MPG
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 01.15.06
Of all the tasty bites I witnessed at the LA Auto Show, the Volkswagen GX3 caught my eye like nothing else. Classified as a motorcycle, this peculiar little two-seater has two wheels in the front a one in the back. Combining the efficiency and pep of a motorcycle with the stability of a small car, the GX3 could be a great personal mobility option. VW claims it can get 46 mpg in the city, and can do 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds. Yes, it is a concept car, but VW claims they are seriously considering production if customer interest is sufficient. They would go for about $17,000 or less. Yes, you would need your motorcycle license; yes, you would need to wear a helmet; and yes, you could drive in the carpool lane. If you want one, maybe let Volkswagen know you're interested. :: GX3 in Green Car Congress
Love the idea
I digg it
http://digg.com/design/Volkswagen_GX3:_3_Wheels,_46_MPG
This car is very simliar to a the Campagna T-Rex. I don't know if it was based off it, but the design is almost identical it seems, although if it goes for under $17,000, then there IS a big difference, since the T-Rex has a price tag of about $50,000. Both the T-Rex and the VW designs are pretty cool.
BTW, here's a link to the T-Rex:
http://www.go-t-rex.com/
Very cool, I like it!
Niiiiiice! I like it, too!
wow, i just looked at teh T-Rex distributorships in Canada; Brossard, Smith Falls and St Leonard, wow! THey're hitting all the hotspots....
those are cool. they are way to pricey, look WAY TOO MUCH like the Badsey** Funmachine from the 80's BUT imnsho, anything that still uses gasoline (even with better fuel efficiency) is a little waste of time, so getting a brand new vehicle with 43 mpg, eh..... what does that mean aside from the fact that in 2 years when you coudl be getting a FC or plug-in-hybrid you won't because you're still paying off the $20k (or $50K in the TRex case..)
if all you do is commute to work in the car, or if that's 75% of what you do, you can buy a used clunker for a couple of grand, and do a conversion yourself, heck, you can even get a solar powered charging station with the cash left over (instead of the $16K for the three wheeler). That way save your gas car for when you're visiting grandma or road tripping but the rest of teh time, you can drive if not 100% emission free (batteries off-gas)youcan be doing considerably better than soem measly 43 mpg.... 'Cause there are other options which may be much more viable...
**BTW badsey is the guy who designed that KILLER electric bike the switchblade i metioned before (that charges in less than an hour and does 60mph)
It should be classified as a car if they want to sell a lot these ... have you looked at how much motorcycle insurance cost!
Concept is great, but there is a flaw. I can imagine one of those getting run over fairly easily by a truck or another vehicle where the driver is raised enough so the car would not be visible.
With the open cockpit I don't see any advantage over a motorcycle. It sits so low to the ground visibiity would be very poor. I would rather not wear a helmet if I where sitting in a 'car'.
If they could give the cockpit some sort of weather protection it would be a big step in the right direction.
hey man check this!
The odds are still good it will never make it in the US, As if it just looks unsafe. But it would go far in places like Europe and Asia
motorcycle insurance is less than automobile insurance...generally speaking...
IIRC, in the mid-80s there was a "woman" in Texas(?) who was trying to sell stock in a company with a trike prototype "she" had designed. It had all the usual hype about putting Detroit out of business with 90mpg and great performance. "She" turned out to be a con-man in drag (with rented kids!). The Car looked kinda neat, though - fully enclosed sporty-looking vehicle with 4-passenger capacity. I don't see why a 2-passenger trike with a mini-Cooper-sized front end wouldn't do well...
What about the already-to-market VW Lupo? It gets better mileage than that.
Bring them on!!! If the price is right I'l have one in my garage faster then you can say ZOOM ZOOM !!!
That would be a hell of a fun track or autocross car.
VW oe 3 roti pentru piata americana.
if this had a pull up top in case it rains i would buy one.
I currently drive a Ford AU XR8 (5 litre V8). Love the power and speed. if I had a vehicle such as the 3-wheel VW, no doubt I could recieve the same thrills and self gratification as I do now. I would trade in a heart beat and save money in running cost's and purchase price and get more performance! mad if you don't!
I would buy one of these is a heartbeat! $17,000 is SO reasonable. For those who say this is no better than a bike: Yes it is! You sit low which feels wicked fast. It is Way more stable than a bike. I have a bike license but won't ride anymore. This I would ride happily. 1.25 g forces, are you kidding me? I WANT one!
Good start, but nothing on the Campagna T-Rex:
http://www.go-t-rex.com/pictures.asp?nav=en-ca
which is less than 1000 lbs. w/ rollcage, sequential 6sp, 0-60 4.1sec, 140mph, and 1.9Gs!
Price is its only advantage; maybe when Honda realizes in can build a T-Rex-like, all-weather coupe that's curvier, stiffer, lighter, cheaper, and faster than the GX3, people will line up for a trike.
PS: The most important single variable for fuel economy is weight; the incidental performance bonus is obvious.
This car's main point isn't fuel consumption or safety or practicality. This is a car for people who understand the significance of power to weight ratios, and that this car is all about that. 125hp, in stock form, but add a turbocharger, net close to 200hp, and you pretty much have a toy for $25k that will rock anybody's socks off. The mileage doesn't hurt though, and the price is terrific.
I truely hope they decide to bring this to production, it's vehicles in this general line which have the potential to allow personal short distance transportation to remain a viable option while perhaps eventually supporting a larger general and long range transport system, like trains perhaps. Either way its nice to know there are people working at the top of the field with their head in the right direction. Maybe I won't have to run away and live in Austrailia after all.
ya ur right about the weather protection... if they made it at least like a t-top thing that would be cool too... and they better put a radio in it if they know whats good.. but seriously they should start production asap if they do fix some of the minor problems like that
Put it on the market.I'll be
first in line.
If they build it I will buy one. I'll worry about converting it to biodesel or ethanol at a later date. This is just the "fun" answer to fuel economy we need!
BTW, for those concerned about safety, you obviously don't ride motorcycles. This is a half-step better than those, at least.
Also remember that it was not created primarily for fuel economy, but to be a "pure" driving experience. It handles like a sports car, but it has 3 wheels so it doesn't need to meet all the bloody gov't restrictions. Some of us would rather NOT have a high explosive device right in front of our faces (airbags). If my time is up, then it's up, if not, then it's not.
I once owned a three wheel car called an HMV Freeway which claimed to get 100 plus mpg. The HMV was a bit crude, I'm sure the VW is more polished. VW is on the right track, but I want more MPG, just think of the MPG if the GX3 had a small diesel engine in it!
I love it! I hope it goes into production and with a $17,000 price tag it should be a hit.
bring it ill buy it its exactly what people are looking for!
I LOVE IT! PLEASE MAKE IT! I CANT AFFORD A TREX OR ATOM SO THIS RIGHT UP MY ALLEY
I like it, but I think volkswagen should create some lambo doors for it!! (LOL) VWPOST.com - check it out!!!
can't wait for the GX3 to come i want one, really bad.
$3.00 a gallon what are we waiting for. Toyota has enough bussiness. Lets start a new wave VW. I would have one in my garage tomorrow!
vraiment trop top
This concept is coool !!
Nice price too !!