VW GX3 for real?

Newswheel staff :: 07 January 2006 :: Filed under Mid / rear engine sportscar, Volkswagen, Volkswagen GX3, Trade shows, US,

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Crazy concept could go into production

Following the EcoRacer concept shown in Tokyo, VW wheeled out another whacky racer at the LA show this week. The GX3 is an extreme three-wheel motorcycle-car crossover vehicle which is claimed to hit 60mph in just 5.7 seconds. The concept looks aggressive and is far from practical with two exposed seats and no windscreen. So far, so par for the “batshit” concept car course. But here’s the twist. VW is talking up the GX3’s chances of going into production.

Powered by a 1.6-litre four cylinder engine, the GX3 packs 125bhp and weighs just 570kg. That translates into a power to weight ratio of 220bhp per tonne, so if anything that 5.7 second figure for the sprint to 60 seems conservative. And of course this being a concept from a large, responsible manufacturer like VW, the GX3 is claimed to return frankly fantastic fuel economy for such a high performance vehicle – 46mpg. Granted, that’s not quite as impressive as the near-70mpg capability of the diesel-powered EcoRacer, but’s it’s still damned impressed for a petrol-fed sportster.

Interestingly, VW says the GX3 was developed specifically with the needs of US drivers in mind, presumably as part of VW’s Moonraker project (set up to investigate how VWs can better appeal to US buyers). Given the usual cliché of US drivers as a horde of SUV-toting, gas-guzzling philistines, it’s certainly a bold take on American car buying preferences.

If the GX3 does hit showrooms, VW estimates a price of just $17,000. No word on whether the moto-car would make it to the UK and the rest of Europe. But if it does, it’s not hard to imagine we hapless Brits being charged more than the £10,000 a straight exchange-rate calculation throws up.