Classic pearls of the future - VW Lupo 3L TDI
Small cars are not generally counted among the sought-after classics, nor are economy engines. However, the VW Lupo 3L TDI could be an exception in the future, as it already enjoyed a dedicated fan base when it was still sold as a new car, which was the case between 1999 and 2005.
Its objective was reflected in its name, a green "3L". In a one-third mix, it consumed 2.99 liters of diesel fuel per 100 km. This was an impressive performance in 1999 and the developers of the special Lupo had to pull out all the stops. "Space technology in road traffic", you could say.
In fact, there were four things that enabled the Lupo to achieve this economy: A consumption-optimized three-cylinder diesel engine with a pump-nozzle system, a manual gearbox automated by means of hydraulics, an aerodynamically optimized body with a cw value of 0.29 and a lot of lightweight construction.
A lot had to be developed in order to achieve these goals; hardly any parts are interchangeable with the other Lupos. The doors, for example, have an aluminum skin, the tailgate was made of composite material during the first years of production - the 3L was always assembled in Wolfsburg. Suspension elements also differed significantly from the "normal" Lupo, as did the interior fittings, bumpers and other add-on parts.
Even by today's standards, 3L Lupos consumed little diesel oil in everyday use - a three before the decimal point was always possible. And they were more expensive and rarer than the other versions of the Lupo, which may actually secure them a place in classic car heaven one day, because although visually less striking, the Lupo 3L TDI can be seen as a direct predecessor of the XL1.
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