The Prototype for America's Future Car?

by One Vike

The Messerschmitt Aircraft Company went into business in 1923, but because they produced the popular Bf-109 fighter plane for the Nazis during WWII, the German democratic government disallowed them from manufacturing any aircraft after the war was over.  So from the end of the war until the 1960's, it was limited to producing sewing machines, pre-fab housing, automobile parts, and by the 1950's they began manufacturing an automobile. 
 

The car that the Messerschmitt company is mostly remembered for is the Messerschmitt KR-200 three-wheeler, which had a distinctive bubble canopy.  Designed by aircraft engineer Fritz Fend, and manufactured at Messerschmitt's aircraft factory, this three-wheeled vehicle was powered by an air-cooled 199cc 1-cylinder, 2-stroke that developed 10 bhp at 5250 RPM.   From February 1955 to December 1966, there were a total of 16,000 Messerschmitt KR-200's produced. 
 
These three-wheeled vehicles retailed for around 2,500 DM's which made the KR200 a considerable success when you consider the way Europe was still the economically struggling from the ravages of the war.  Eventually the demand for basic economical transportation in Germany and other European nations began to diminish with the economic recovery that took place in the 1960's.  So the company ceased production of their economical three-wheeling KR-200, and soon it became nothing more than a collectors item. 

44 years later the commuters of the world are again struggling economically as they try to get the biggest bang for their buck possible.  Along with the current financial struggles, we in America are also stuck with a political regime that has bought into the Great Global Warming Swindle hook line and sinker.  The Obama administration's refusal to allow for proper oil drilling in areas where we know it exists is just adding to the fuel shortage and high prices at the pumps. So like it or not, American commuters are being forced to either buy more economically sound vehicles, or go broke driving around to do their business.
 
Which brings me to the new Volkswagen Spartan.  A vehicle that was designed to get the the maximum amount of mileage from a liter of gasoline.  The Spartan could very well be the prototype for the type of vehicle the American commuters will be driving in the future.  For a low price tag of $600, the Chinese people will be able to purchase a VW Spartan.  This VW is no toy and is ready to be released in China sometime this summer.  Last summer when VW rolled out the Spartan for their share holders meeting, they revealed that the $600 car can get up to 258 mpg.  It would seem that Ford, Chrysler and Government Motors may be chasing VW on this one.
 
 Before you get too excited though, I would forget about taking your girlfriend on a date, or even doing any extensive grocery shopping with the Spartan.   That would be because this death trap only has room for the driver.  I also doubt that the environmental wackos, who have been trying to get us all to car pool for the last 30 years, will be too happy with it. 
 

When they introduced it to the VW stockholders meeting as the most economical car in the world, they revealed that their initial objective was to prove that they could produce a vehicle which uses only 1 liter of fuel to travel 100 kilometers.
 
They needed the trimmed down anemic style to get the targeted mileage they were shooting for.  So what you get is a body that is 3.47 meters long and just 1.25 meters wide, and a little over a meter high. The prototype was made completely of carbon fiber and is not painted to save weight. So like Henry Fords Model T, you can have any color you want as long as its carbon color. This little death trap is not electrical though, because it actually has a one cylinder diesel power plant that is a  positioned ahead of the rear axle and combined with an automatic shift controlled by a knob in the interior.
 
They even claim that safety was not compromised on the Spartan.  In roll-over and impact tests it supposedly matches the protection you get from the GT racing cars.  The tests supposedly show that the meager looking interior does not sacrifice safety.  All I can say about their safety claims is that I'll wait for the actual results after a few years of usage by the idiots who will actually be buying these death traps.
 

So sometime this year, if you live in China or Germany, for the equivalence of $600, you will be able to buy a car that gets 258 mpg.  That makes it the most economical car ever produced. This little death trap will be even more economical then an electric hybrid.  Although I doubt the anti fossil fuel crowd will be too excited.
 
For those of you interested in the tale of the tape, this little tin can will get you speeding down the freeway at a top speed of 62 to 74.6 miles per hour.  Also, with a gas tank capacity of 1.7 gallons and considering you will be getting 258 miles per gallon, you will be able to travel 404 miles before you need to refuel.  
 

So, how would you like to be driving down the freeway in this covered moped on steroids?  I only ask because I'm convinced that the current regime will order its newly acquired auto manufacturer, "Government Motors", to start producing these death traps for it's servants, the American comrades.  I also expect Obama to tell his energy czar to advise his subjects that we should buy these death traps or be prepared to pay higher taxes for violating his new carbon-dioxide emissions standards.  After all, a government that would force a person to buy health insurance will not think twice about forcing its citizens to purchase vehicles they do not want. 

I have never shied away from accusing the leftist in congress for our current economic malaise in America.  However, millions of Americans are financially suffering and they need ways to save money.  So while we may live in different times then the mid 1950's when the KR-200 was first introduced, the need for such an economically efficient vehicle has become a priority of the worlds auto manufacturers.  If this vehicle can help some make ends meet and still allow for the freedom they have grown to enjoy, then it can only be a good thing.

I would like to remind my fellow Americans though, that we may be forced to pinch penny's and cut back on certain luxuries for now.  However, come November we do have a chance to stop Obama and the Democrats from continuing with their fascist plans.  Then, in 2012 we will be given another chance to reverse everything they have done which has put us in the position where we are forced to even consider purchasing a death trap like the VW Spartan.