Volkswagen Nils Concept is a new take on urban transport

Michael Harley — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Coupe, Volkswagen, Design/Style, Electric

Small, lightweight, electric and seats just one. That pretty much sums up the new Volkswagen Nils concept which was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show today.

The sole occupant sits inside an ultra-light all-aluminum chassis with aluminum skin and polycarbonate door panels. According to the automaker, overall length is just 120 inches (for reference, the Smart Fortwo is just over 98 inches long) and the weight has been kept below 1,000 pounds. Motivation comes from a 33-horsepower electric motor that weighs just 42 pounds, pulling power from a 5.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The range is about 40 miles and charging takes just two hours.

Facing the driver is a seven-inch TFT display with digital instrumentation. The Nils is also fitted with a portable infotainment unit to controls navigation, radio, phone and Internet access. With multi-link suspension, drilled disc brakes at all four corners and a wide stance, the Nils looks fun to drive. Designed with short-commute Europeans in mind (the project is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development) the concept probing the feasibility of micromobility probably won't look very practical to Americans, even if it does appear pretty cool.

Volkswagen Nils Concept is a new take on urban transport originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen takes another shot at single-seat mobility with Frankfurt-bound Nils concept

Noah Joseph — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Volkswagen, Electric

There aren't a lot of cars out there that have more doors than seats. Usually it's the other way around, but that's what Volkswagen has in store with the Nils concept. The tiny one-seater packs two polycarbonate gullwing doors (plus a rear hatch) in a unique shape that envisions a future mode of transportation for European commuters.

Riding on four outboard wheels with individual fenders, the Nils is about more than its form factor, though. Behind the driver sits a 15 kW electric motor that delivers a range of about 40 miles, but with a 25 kW overboost function that can propel it to 62 mph in 11 seconds. Charging from a standard European socket takes only two hours. The diminutive concept also packs all the latest electronic safety systems you'd expect from a larger car into its 1,000-pound shape, built around an aluminum space frame.

This isn't the first time that Volkswagen has toyed with the idea of a single-seat commuter, having showcased the Formula XL1 concept earlier this year. Nor will it be the only narrow EV concept the Volkswagen Group will unveil next week at the Frankfurt Motor Show, joining the 1+1 Audi Urban Concept in the group's pavilion. We'll be there to check them both out, but for now you can follow the jump for the full press release and the quartet of high-res images in the gallery for a closer look.

Continue reading Volkswagen takes another shot at single-seat mobility with Frankfurt-bound Nils concept

Volkswagen takes another shot at single-seat mobility with Frankfurt-bound Nils concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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