Volkswagen has approved top-secret plans to build a limited-edition 'one-liter' car, which will be capable of one liter per 100km, or about 235mpg using our U.S. standards, Next Energy News reports. Originally, the company unveiled a concept version at an annual meeting back in 2002, predicting that it could see production in 2012—VW is now expecting the vehicle to be available in 2010, two years earlier than originally planned.

To be fair, the car isn't exactly going to compete with a mainstream Toyota Camry, or even the now-defunct Honda Insight. Back in 2002, the tiny 1-Liter concept seated just two people in tandem (one behind the other), and included a jetfighter-style canopy door and rear view cameras in place of less-aerodynamic side mirrors, according to the report. It also weighed just 640 pounds.

Today, the planned production version will be a two-cylinder diesel unit, with a mild hybrid system that would allow full-electric operation under certain circumstances, according to the article. And despite its small size, it will include air bags, anti-lock brakes, and electronic stability control.

(Image credit: Wikimedia Commons)