Wolfsburg / Los Angeles, November 2007 - Powertrain revolution in California: Volkwagen is presenting the space up! blue concept car at the Los Angeles Auto Show (November 14 to 25) as a world exclusive – a compact, self-confident zero emissions van in the style of the legendary Volkswagen Samba Bus. On board: the world’s first high temperature fuel cell and an array of twelve lithium-ion batteries. When the electric motor (45 kW / 61 PS) of the space up! blue is driven exclusively by battery, a range of 65 miles is possible – enough to handle nearly all distances in downtown areas.

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Love the skylights added to the side of the roof. Great use of space, and I like the design.

Blindsided that it's fuel cell powered. Didn't expect that.

Kudos!!!

Holding out for Tiguan 4MOTION TDI 6MT!

The current crop of hybrid vehicles are a real Frankenstein mess of technologies using a mechanical drive train with bolt-on electric technology. The real answer is a full electric drive train powered by an energy source which could be fuel cell or a small high efficiency diesel generating the electricity.

GM are heading in this direction with the Volt concept and to see this coming from VW is wonderful. Plus I love the whole utilitarian space concept.

Dare I say it this vehicle would probably spring me out of the GTI! I'll take mine with AWD (one electric motor up front and one in back) and a small TDI engine please

"I drive a wagon... even if you outrun me, can you brag about it?"

E-mail | For Sale!

as previously said: Brilliant!

Quote, originally posted by patrikman »

A restoration to me is some sort of exorcism/brainwash for a car. /rant.

Quote, originally posted by patrikman »

A restoration to me is some sort of exorcism/brainwash for a car. /rant.

Important: keep the diner windows and the doors. Make great, loud colors for this one! Magma orange.

Not important: I don't need hydrogen power or a fuel cell. Gas or diesel is OK.

And I want it loaded. This doesn't have to be an economy car at all.

Oo \xxVxx/ oO
°___\_W_/___°

Cuz it seats four comfortably and it looks like u can cram a bunch of stuff in the back if the seats are down.

Quote, originally posted by riceburner »

"BAAHAA!!!! I just spent two pages of a NB thread explaining that to a bunch of VW 'vert psychos."

Quote, originally posted by VarianceVQ »

"Haven't you seen Top Gear? Beetles are sinister, evil MFers."

Oo \xxVxx/ oO
°___\_W_/___°

I'd be happy with a TDI in the back as well, but I'd prefer this setup.

Quote, originally posted by riceburner »

"BAAHAA!!!! I just spent two pages of a NB thread explaining that to a bunch of VW 'vert psychos."

Quote, originally posted by VarianceVQ »

"Haven't you seen Top Gear? Beetles are sinister, evil MFers."

Hurry Up! and sell the Space Up! at my local US dealer! I gotta have 4 doors - and I love the design and the look. I will either take a TDI or Fuel-Cell (or I will settle for a gasser too). I am in Colorado.

Thanks,
Andre.

I think a more upright windsheild would help the styling.

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Quote, originally posted by 04RSR32 »

Very cool. I love the child booster seat. Slap a small Diesel in that thing and you would have a great car.

Quote, originally posted by macosxuser »

Needs more range, but I'd buy one. I like the Diesel generator idea. A small TDI generated hybrid would in something like this would be a sure purchase for my first new car. ...

X4. Fuel-cell technology is not ready for prime time. A small Diesel would add range (probably triple it!) and power.

VW EV, plug-in Hybrid, and/or 1.4-2.0 VVT&VVL T/dual-charged FSI engines for the US would be useful...

Or, they'll let this showcase be put back onto the shelf to gather dust. I don't think though, that the Germans can afford to bluff any more. All my adult life there's been plenty of talk about electrically propelled automobiles. The time for talking has run-out.

Please read my latest article in Automotive Traveler! Link: http://automotivetraveler.com/jump/1364 Thanx, and leave a comment at the end! ☺

Yeah, I'd hop on one... I'm not holding my breath for mostly electric drive, but a TDI hybrid would be amazing, and doable now... c'mon, VW, make it a 2009 model, you can do it!

http://www.worldcarfans.com/90...ealed

That said, I LOVE the fact that it has a nice 150w solar array on top. Too bad most in town parking is in garages... For me in Austin though, this would be the PERFECT vehicle! And if the fuel cell isn't ready yet, throw in a 3cyl Bluetec Diesel. Then you don't have to create energy by electric plug, ya can make it from Biodiesel

for a Great looking, forward thinking car

Quote, originally posted by Boogety Boogety »

Ooops, forgot to include the link to what I'm talking about... doh! http://www.worldcarfans.com/90...ealed

Maybe that little thingy is to charge the driver's brain?

Quote »

That said, I LOVE the fact that it has a nice 150w solar array on top. Too bad most in town parking is in garages... For me in Austin though, this would be the PERFECT vehicle! And if the fuel cell isn't ready yet, throw in a 3cyl Bluetec Diesel. Then you don't have to create energy by electric plug, ya can make it from Biodiesel

Still not zero (or even close to zero) emissions. Hydrogen fuel cells are nothing but a feel good green masturbation for those technophiles who think that there is a tech solution for every problem. As far as I know there is no such thing as a hydrogen well or a hydrogen tree that we can tap for H2. Like you said about the plug in part - unless it is totally solar or hydro it ain't zero nothin' and it ain't green. Nor is Biodeisel - ever tried sitting in a closed garage with a running car burning Biodiesel? You will suffer the same ill effects as you would with regular Diesel - I.E. death.

Yet - I do like this car. And since there is no viable green substitute for petro burning engines, I'll take it with whatever they want to put in it.

And I do dig the Olds Vista Cruiser skylights in the roof.

At least, electricity can in principle be made without fossil fuels and carbon neutral --- right at your home, too. Same goes for hydrogen. Neither fossil fuel nor BioFuel are carbon neutral, today.

At any rate, currently hydrogen is expensive to produce, transport, and store, and most H_2 containers for cars that I have heard of simply evaporate it to keep it at proper pressure and temperature --- typically, in two weeks time everything is gone. Not really practical or ready for prime time, same as the fuel cell technology.

So, give me this car as a plug-in hybrid with a small gas or Diesel engine to give it a normal range and a bit more power.

BTW, the skylights go back to VW's Samba Bus.

Modified by feels_road at 9:07 PM 11-15-2007

VW EV, plug-in Hybrid, and/or 1.4-2.0 VVT&VVL T/dual-charged FSI engines for the US would be useful...

Until we all have a "Mr. Fusion Home Energy Reactor" the key right now is making more efficient use of what we have. Digging fuel out of the ground and burning it is about the most inefficient way we can do it. Likewise a mechanical drive train can never perform at peak efficiency since it has to work under a wide range of situations.

De-coupling the energy source from the drive train allows the energy source, whatever it is, to operate at peak efficiency. It can also allow the vehicle to easily be manufactured/sold with an energy source of choice; additional battery packs for full electric, fuel cell where Hydrogen is available or diesel where that makes more sense. Sure, each has it pros and cons but they are all steps in the right direction.

Once the mind set is changed the innovation will follow.