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The EcoRacer uses a carbon-fiber monocoque worthy of a Formula 1 machine. The engine, mounted amidships, is an early version of a new common rail diesel due in 2007. The result is a two-seater that pushes the sports-car envelope one full step beyond the likes of Lotus, Westfield, Caterham, and Ariel. Not only does it accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and top out at 143 mph, according to VW, it also averages a miserly 80 mpg. The only reason to sniff at the EcoRacer is the scent of diesel exhaust, which adds pungence to the open-air driving experience. We took the orange-metallic head turner for a spin on the Pau Arnos circuit in the south of France.



The engine starts at the push of a button, the gearbox responds promptly to paddle-shift inputs, and the accelerator offers instantaneous response. The cockpit layout is ultrasimple, and the shift lever meets your hand with a pleasant blend of leather and aluminum.