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The 1992 General Motors Ultralite was depicted in Demolition Man (1993) as a 2042 Chevrolet Police Cruiser. Developed jointly by General Motors Design Center and Research Laboratories, the Ultralite concept was created to be the ultimate test platform for fuel economy.
The federal government was convinced that 100 mpg cars could easily be built if only the domestic auto manufacturers would make an effort. This was the goal of General Motors in 1992. The result was the Ultralite, a 1,400-pound four-passenger sedan that GM claimed could attain 100 miles per gallon at a constant 50 mph speed. Powered by a rear-mounted GM 1.5-liter three-cylinder two-stroke engine, the Ultralite achieved an 80 mph figure in the EPA's highway test cycle and could also accelerate from 0-60 miles per hour in 7.8 seconds. GM claimed the top speed was 135 mph.
All components of the body contributed to economy and efficiency. Both the body and structure were carbon-fiber. Side doors lifted upwards in a gull-wing style for easy access to the front and rear seats. The large window area was intended to give the driver excellent all-around visibility. Auxiliary fluorescent tube lights joined High-intensity fiber-optic headlights and LED taillights.
Images: GM Media Archives
