1999 VOLKSWAGEN Lupo 3L 1.2L TDI 5AT (61 HP)

Vehicle Overview

It might have been the most illogical car in its lineup, but the Lupo 3L was more than just a fuel-efficient city car; it was a statement.

The Lupo was the smallest car in Volkswagen’s lineup back in 1999. While other carmakers tried convincing customers that hybrids are the future, the German carmaker supported the diesel idea. It worked very hard to develop the most fuel-efficient production vehicle in the world, and it succeeded. It didn’t even matter that it was too expensive to justify its fuel-efficiency. Yet, the car was sold in important numbers and certainly not for its low fuel consumption but for its very small CO2 emissions.

For starters, the Lupo 3L took its name for its fuel-efficiency. It proved an average fuel consumption of just 3 l/100 km (78.4 mph-US), and that was an outstanding result by any standards. While the exterior looked very similar to the standard Lupo, some body parts were made from aluminum and magnesium to save weight. As a result, it was about 100 kg (220 lbs) lighter than the rest of the range.

Inside, there were a different set of seats with magnesium frames and slim padding to save weight. Volkswagen used the sound-deadening materials only for the firewall. It didn’t feature air-conditioning or any sound system in standard trim level, but the Tiptronic automatic gearbox was as standard.

Under the hood, Volkswagen installed a three-cylinder 1.2-liter turbo-diesel engine. It was lighter and tuned for maximum efficiency. But, at the end of the day, it offered 50% less fuel consumption than its 1.4-liter TDI sibling.