- Volkswagen GX3
Infobox Automobile
name = Volkswagen GX3
manufacturer =Volkswagen /Lotus
body_style = 3-wheel 2-seatroadster
class = technically aMotorcycle
engine = 1.6 L I4
fuel_economy = 44 mpg (5.3 L/100 km)The Volkswagen GX3 was a
concept car created byVolkswagen . The GX3 was first shown at the 2006Greater Los Angeles Auto Show . It was considered a very unusual concept since it was three-wheeled and sometimes considered more of amotorcycle concept than a concept car; but it did feature great performance for a value of only aboutUS$ 17,000.The GX3 used a transverse-mounted 1.6 L I4 engine from the
VW Lupo GTI. This engine gave the GX3 an output of 125 PS (92 kW) and 152 N·m (112 ft·lbf) of torque. The GX3 could go from 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and had a top speed of 200 km/h (125 mph). It used a six-speedmanual transmission .The design of the GX3 was atypical, with the fact that it used a front double wishbone suspension. The GX3 was made out of a tubular steel spaceframe and laminated body panels. The exterior design was one of a kind, with it being a two-seat, three-wheeled vehicle. It lacked a roof or windshield, and was intended mainly for fair-weather environments, as a "weekend car". The design of the interior was very minimalist and entirely functional.
There was considerable speculation as to possible production of the GX3; Volkswagen fueled this with the announcement that production would depend on the public reaction to the concept. However, in spite of the energetic and overwhelmingly positive public response to the concept, and intensive chassis development by
Lotus Cars for production, Volkswagen later concluded that it would not be able to sell the GX3 without costly and complex redesigns that would alienate VW's target market and increase price above the proposedUS$ 17,000 base price. The company cited possible safety issues that could lead to product-liability lawsuits and decided that the legal concerns made production as-is impossible.References
* [http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z10813/Volkswagen_GX3/default.aspx VW GX3 @ ConceptCarz.com]
*cite web|url=http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=109643#14|title=Volkswagen's Three-Wheeler GX3 Headed to Production|work=Edmunds.com|accessdate=March 16|accessyear=2006
*cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-story.jsp?news_id=14806&cntsrc=rss_4car_News_14806|title=Volkswagen drops GX3 due to legal concerns|work=Channel4.com/4Car|accessdate=August 8|accessyear=2006External links
* [http://sameerkumar.blogspot.com/2006/09/sin-city-volkswagen-gx3.html The most brilliant trike ever made!]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
