The 1991 Chico was an experimental Hybrid vehicle. Chico, in Spanish, means "small, tiny". It was a Hybrid-powered (petrol and electric) compact 2+2 vehicle designed for use in densely populated regions and the areas surrounding them.
The vehicle allowed for automatic switch-over from a combustion engine to an electric motor. The spark ignition engine worked mainly during acceleration and at the speeds more then 32 mph. The 6 kW electric motor was utilised during phases when the vehicle was being driven at an almost constant speed in town traffic. The two-door hatchback Chico was only 126 inches long and 64 inches high.
In order to provide easy entrance and exit, a four-joint door hinge was developed combining the elements of a sliding door with those of a wing door. The driver was supplied with information via two displays.
There was a liquid crystal display on the dashboard which supplied the usual data, on road and engine speed, and a head-up display supplied destination-tracking information. A car well ahead of its time, and the sort of idea that many car manufacturers are pursuing today.
Source: www.ltv-vwc.org.uk
Images: Mario Buonocunto Concept Cars Page; www.volkswagen-classic.de
