The General Motors Ultralite was a 1992 low emission vehicle concept car intended to demonstrate the benefits of advanced materials and low fuel consumption. The carbon fiber shell was fabricated by Scaled Composites and it weighed only 420 pounds (191 kg). The total weight of the car was 1,400 pounds (635 kg).
The car had gullwing doors and no B-pillar.
Its 3 cylinder 1.5 L 2-stroke engine could produce 111 hp (83 kW), which made a speed of 135 mph (217 km/h) possible. The car could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 8 seconds. The goal was to make a four passenger show car capable of 100 miles per US gallon (2.4 L/100 km; 120 mpg). It was rated at 88 miles per US gallon (2.7 L/100 km; 106 mpg) by the EPA, but could achieve 100 miles per US gallon (2.4 L/100 km; 120 mpg) at a steady state cruising speed of 50 mph.
The shape was reminiscent of the Ford Probe concept, and the Ultralite presaged the production General Motors EV1 electric vehicle and other production models.
Read more about General Motors Ultralite: In Popular Culture
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