Volkswagen Up! Lite

The Lite is the latest member of Volkswagen's growing Up! Family. You may recall the E-Up!, the Space Up!, two small cars demonstrating Volkswagen's know-how where efficient micro-vehicles are concerned.

The Up! Lite is a conventional four-seater (unlike the E-Up! which was a 3+1 seater) which is not only economical but safe and agreeable to drive, in true Volkswagen fashion. The Lite has a promised fuel consumption figure of 70 mpg (3.36 L/100 km) thanks to its diesel-drinking 64 hp 0.8L two-cylinder engine. With turbocharging, a lithium-ion hybrid pack and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the Up! Lite concept not only has more technology than most other Volkswagens, but it would seem as though it will perform like most other micro cars.

According to the German carmaker, the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time is of 12 seconds and the top speed hovers around 100 mph or 160 km/h. These numbers ensure that the Lite will feel very at home on North American roads.

Appearances can be deceiving. Although the Up! Lite looks like a fairly normal car, you would be wrong to assume that it is. The concept car elevates fuel efficiency to a whole other level as it offers room for four adults in a sleek and aerodynamically optimized shell. What's more, it is built with aluminum, steel, and carbon-fibre for both chassis and body panels. Altogether, the Up! Lite tips the scale at a feather-like 1,530 lb (694 kg).

This car is actually based on components of the future new small car family, a series of cars from Volkswagen scheduled for launch in some countries by the end of 2011. An electric Up! should be coming to North America by 2014.