Volkswagen’s crazy-efficient EV borrows an idea from Slate

image via TechCrunch

September 14, 2026, 5:41 PM

• •Volkswagen unveiled a Mission Efficiency EV prototype that it says can reach the equivalent of 323 MPGe under ideal conditions.
• •The company drove the car 794 miles from Wolfsburg to Vienna with one charging stop and finished with 104 miles of range remaining, for measured consumption of 7.51 kWh per 100 miles.
• •The prototype uses the motor and battery from the ID. Polo and is described by Volkswagen as a near-production vehicle.
• •Its aerodynamic Kammback shape, 0.158 drag coefficient, tight wheel clearances, and lightweight interior are central to its efficiency gains.
• •Volkswagen omitted a built-in infotainment system and speakers, instead relying on drivers’ own devices and a portable Bluetooth speaker.
• •The company did not commit to production, though the article notes Volkswagen previously built 250 units of the efficiency-focused XL1.

Volkswagen unveiled the Mission Efficiency, an electric prototype designed to maximize range and reduce energy use through extreme aerodynamic and weight-saving measures. The company said the car achieved the equivalent of 323 MPGe under ideal conditions and completed a 794-mile drive from Wolfsburg to Vienna with one charging stop and 104 miles of range left. The vehicle borrows production-oriented parts from the ID. Polo but makes practical compromises, including cramped rear seating, tight wheel clearances, and no built-in infotainment system or speakers. Volkswagen called it near production status, though it stopped short of confirming that the model will actually be built for sale.

Read original article