Car companies pay close attention to the Middle-East market, but it’s usually in relation to high-priced exotics and luxury cars.

So it comes as a big surprise to hear that Volkwagen might be launching a concept car at the upcoming Qatar Motor Show that will consume only 1-liter of fuel to travel 100 km. That is equivalent to 235 mpg. Will the Shiekhs be interested and impressed? Time will tell.

In the past, VW has shown concept vehicles with such a fuel-sipping consumption, the latest of which – called the L1 concept, was shown at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Reports suggest that the new version will be powered by a diesel-electric hybrid system, which thanks to new lithium-ion batteries will give this vehicle its magical fuel consumption figure.

All will hopefully be revealed very soon. The Qatar Motor Show will be held Between January 26 – 29.

[Source: AutoBild]

As amazing as the 71-mpg Polo BlueMotion model is that Volkswagen plans to show at the LA Auto Show next week, the German automaker will also show another fuel-efficient vehicle that gets more than double that car’s mpg rating.

Called the L1 Concept, this tiny two seater uses just 1.38 liters of diesel per 100 km – that’s 170 mpg! All that efficiency comes from an 800cc diesel motor mated to a hybrid drivetrain and a seven-speed DSG transmission. It makes 27hp in ECO mode and 39hp in a more powerful mode. Torque is rated at 74 ft-lbs.

The engine is then wrapped in a light-weight carbon fiber body, in a two seater arrangement with the passenger sitting behind the driver. The L1 weighs only 838 lbs and has a drag coefficient of just 0.195 cd.

Surprisingly, while the L1 is a concept (and looks it), Volkswagen has announced plans to bring this vehicle to production. The company officially refers to it as a “near production vehicle,” and says a production version is expected by 2013.

Volkswagen has several other debuts planned for the LA Auto Show with there being a strong possibility that it will show its E-Up! electric concept car. VW debuted the E-Up! next to the L1 at the Frankfurt Auto Show a few months back and said it would also go into production. A similar model is slated for U.S. shores in a slightly larger form.

See AutoGuide’s Live 2009 LA Auto Show Coverage Here Starting December 2nd

GALLERY: Volkswagen L1 Concept Debut in Frankfurt

As Germany’s largest automaker, Volkswagen had big news at the Frankfurt Auto Show today with numerous new models that boast impressive fuel-economy. But even the BlueMotion Polo has nothing on the fuel-economy of the L1 Concept, a tiny two seater that uses just 1.38 liters of diesel per 100 km – that’s 170 mpg. And for some reason it doesn’t look as dorky in real life as VW’s promo photos suggested.

The car is a two-seater, although the passenger sits behind the driver.

The engine is an 800cc diesel motor mated to a hybrid drivetrain and a seven-speed DSG transmission. It makes 27hp in ECO mode and 39hp in a more powerful mode. Torque is rated at 74 ft-lbs.

Along with this motor the L1 Concept gets a start-stop system, a light-weight carbon fiber body that is just 838 lbs and a drag coefficient of just 0.195.

Volkswagen calls the L1 Concept a “near production vehicle,” and says a production version is expected by 2013.

GALLERY: Volkswagen L1 Concept

Official release after the jump:

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Back in 2002 Volkswagen first showed its two-seater One-Liter Concept car and tomorrow at the Frankfurt Auto Show Germany’s largest automaker will unveil an updated version of that vehicle.

Called the One-Liter or L1 Concept because of its ability to travel 100km on 1 liter of gasoline (235 mpg), the latest edition isn’t quite so fuel-efficient, but it is slightly more realistic. Reported to be powered by a 29hp two-cylinder diesel engine mated to a seven-seed DSG transmission, and weighing just 380 kg (838 lbs) the L1 is capable of 189.6 mpg.

As mini-cars continue to grow in popularity in markets like Europe and Asia, a production version of the L1 Concept is a possibility in the not-too-distant future. Volkswagen has also been clear about its intent to develop small vehicles for developing markets.

We’ll have to wait until tomorrow (September 15th) when Volkswagen will reportedly unveil the latest L1 Concept at the Frankfurt Auto Show to see just exactly where VW is headed with its latest concept.

GALLERY: Volkswagen tandem L1 Concept

[Source: AutoCar]