If you were Chinese, you could fly (as I did this week) from Hong Kong to Beijing with a connection in Nanchang without being groped, without being forced to take off your shoes and without being irradiated.

Accessing Facebook, not so much.

C'mon Amy! You know you're waiting for an Aptera. Of course you'll probably want to give it a cuter paint job.

Now that you mention it, it does sorta kinda resemble a Rambler...

Now, if it had a rear seat for one passenger...

If I had one, I'd have to tell you that I don't get in so much as strap it on.

I recall a story about a company in India making an equally inexpensive auto for that country. If they had to add all the stuff to make it street legal in the USA, it's add a couple thousand dollars to the tag, IIRC. Likely that's true for this car as well.

I recall BMW once made this crazy little one-seater decades ago - it didn't have a door per se, the whole front of the car opened.

Here's a whole blog about tiny cars -

http://boards.core77.com/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=20476

Amy:

I've lived in China. The only car you could buy there for $600 would be a used deathtrap, perhaps a rusted-out old Daihatsu micro van. A new Chinese-built Buick LaCrosse costs between $27,500 and $37,500, about what it costs in the States.

According to a 2009 article in the China Economic Review, the story of the miracle VW is an urban legend:

It is, of course, total nonsense. The mundane truth is as follows:

The Volkswagen (VW) L1 is a real car, seats 2 and if released would have a price tag $25,900.

Volkswagen has designed and built the L-1 with an eye toward better gas mileage and lower carbon emissions. It has not yet resulted in a production model to be released to the public, but former VW chairman Dr Ferdinand Piëch actually drove the L1 to the VW shareholders' meeting in Hamburg from his office in Wolfsburg which lies about 84 miles south of the German port. Piëch recorded 317.4mpg with an average speed of 43.5mph.

The two passenger car is equipped with a carbon fiber body, 299cc single-cylinder diesel engine, anti lock brakes, driver's airbag and an electronic stability program. The L1's price tag of $25,900 was much higher than what the German automotive company targeted for consumers.

The UK Telegraph followed the progress of the L1 over the years and reported that the project had been scrapped and later restarted. The L1 has design challenges such as the passenger having to sit bobsled style with their legs around the drivers seat as well as excessive noise and vibration adding to passenger discomfort.

Piëch now heads VW's supervisory board and is still working on fuel efficient vehicles for the German automaker. The L1 appeared to be a stepping stone and a learning tool to design more efficient vehicles. Piëch said, "We will never build a one-litre car, but it could give us the knowledge to build a two-litre car."

http://www.chinaeconomicreview.com/china-eye/2009_06_26/Urban_myth:_three_wheeler_for_China.html

Urban legend with video? That's a first.

And I'd pay real money for a car like that. My Insight cost me around $19K.

Damn- another dream shattered!

Amy--

Sorry to pop your balloon. If it makes you feel any better, VW is using some of the technology from the L1 in a series of minicars called "Up!". They're not nearly as radical in styling as the L1, but VW is claiming mileage of 70-80 mpg, and the price is more reasonable. Whether VW will sell them in the U.S. isn't clear.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/17/volkswagen-up-more-details-revealed/

The VW Polo Bluetec gets 75 mpg now. Not available here yet, but if diesel can shake the bad rep that GM gave it in the 70s, you might see one on the floor at your local VW dealer soon.

Sorry - bluemotion.

http://www.topgear.com/uk/volkswagen/polo/verdict

"I recall BMW once made this crazy little one-seater decades ago - it didn't have a door per se, the whole front of the car opened."

My neighbor and first guitar teacher, a gorgeous blonde hippie chick, drove one of those. From this I learned to fall in love with gorgeous blonde hippie chicks and my life has been ruined, ruined I tell you!

The coolness of the car was magnified by her driving it.

Okay, guys, time to make you think:

Is it "greener" of you to buy this new thing, or to get a VW TDI?

How about rebuilding a '65 Buick Wildcat?

Be very aware that if you can't say one way or the other, what you like now is just your emotions talking. New is so much fun! So much better!

Not always. Hybrids are simply not anywhere near as "green" as they're made out to be, and E-85 fuel should be banned for its impact.