DISQUS

TreeHugger.com: Volkswagen GX3: 3 Wheels, 46 MPG

  • Akira117 · 3 years ago
  • khoa · 3 years ago

    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/</p>

  • Speedmaster · 3 years ago

    Very cool, I like it!

  • Brian · 3 years ago

    Niiiiiice! I like it, too!

  • littleCatalyst · 3 years ago

    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)

  • anonymous coward · 3 years ago

    It should be classified as a car if they want to sell a lot these ... have you looked at how much motorcycle insurance cost!

  • bp · 3 years ago

    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.

  • Jim · 3 years ago

    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.

  • Jeremie Kriehbel · 3 years ago

    hey man check this!

  • Roomba · 3 years ago

    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

  • Anonymous · 3 years ago

    motorcycle insurance is less than automobile insurance...generally speaking...

  • MD · 3 years ago

    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...

  • BenSchiendelman · 3 years ago

    What about the already-to-market VW Lupo? It gets better mileage than that.

  • frank casatelli · 3 years ago

    Bring them on!!! If the price is right I'l have one in my garage faster then you can say ZOOM ZOOM !!!

  • Doger · 3 years ago

    That would be a hell of a fun track or autocross car.

  • pro-bike · 3 years ago

    VW oe 3 roti pentru piata americana.

  • Anonymous · 3 years ago

    if this had a pull up top in case it rains i would buy one.

  • JIM CUTTLE · 3 years ago

    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!

  • bobb · 3 years ago

    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!

  • mbhiii · 3 years ago

    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.

  • Tom · 3 years ago

    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.

  • Jim · 3 years ago

    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.

  • Anonymous · 3 years ago

    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

  • Don Pena · 3 years ago

    Put it on the market.I'll be

    first in line.

  • random engineer · 3 years ago

    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.

  • BB · 3 years ago

    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!

  • mark infantino · 3 years ago

    I love it! I hope it goes into production and with a $17,000 price tag it should be a hit.

  • Anonymous · 3 years ago

    bring it ill buy it its exactly what people are looking for!

  • DAN · 3 years ago

    I LOVE IT! PLEASE MAKE IT! I CANT AFFORD A TREX OR ATOM SO THIS RIGHT UP MY ALLEY

  • JC · 3 years ago

    I like it, but I think volkswagen should create some lambo doors for it!! (LOL) VWPOST.com - check it out!!!

  • p · 2 years ago

    can't wait for the GX3 to come i want one, really bad.

  • Chuck · 2 years ago

    $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!

  • Anonymous · 1 year ago

    vraiment trop top

  • Anonymous · 1 year ago

    This concept is coool !!

    Nice price too !!