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Trabant 1.1

Trabant 1.1
Trabant 1.1 Saloon
Overview
ManufacturerVEB Sachsenring
Production1990–1991
AssemblyZwickau, Germany
Body and chassis
ClassB-segment
Body style2-door saloon (Limousine)
2-door estate (Universal)
Doorless ATV (Tramp)
LayoutFF
PlatformTrabant 1.1
Powertrain
Engine1043 cc Barkas B820 OHC I4
Transmission4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,020 mm (6 ft 8 in)
Length3,410 mm (11 ft 2 in)
Width1,510 mm (4 ft 11 in)
Height1,440 mm (4 ft 9 in)
Kerb weight700 kg (1,543 lb)
Chronology
PredecessorTrabant 601

The Trabant 1.1 (German: [tʁaˌbant ˈʔaɪns pʊŋkt ˈʔaɪns]) is the fourth and final series production model of the East German Trabant series, made by VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau. Unlike its predecessors, which have a two-stroke engine, the Trabant 1.1 has a four-stroke engine. In total, 39,474 units of the Trabant 1.1 were made from May 1990 to 30 April 1991.[1][2] This makes the 1.1 the rarest Trabant model.

Most Trabant 1.1 were exported to Poland and Hungary. In Germany, it did not sell very well; in 1990, the 1.1 saloon was offered at a price of DM 10,887,[3] which, at the time, was considered overpriced.

Technical description

The Trabant 1.1 is a small compact car that uses the front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. It was made in limousine, universal, and tramp body styles. The limousine is a two-door saloon, the universal a three-door estate, and the tramp is a doorless ATV off-road-like vehicle with a canvas roof.[4]

Like its predecessors, the 1.1 has a self-supporting body with a steel frame, and body parts made of duroplast. In front, the Trabant has independent suspension with MacPherson struts and triangular control arms; in rear, it has independent suspension with coil springs mated with hydraulic shock absorbers and diagonal control arms. The braking system is a dual-circuit hydraulic system with disc brakes on the front, and drums on the rear wheels. A rack-and-pinion system is used for steering. The wheelsize is 13 inches.[5]

The Trabant is powered by a carburetted, water-cooled, Barkas B820 four-cylinder, OHC, Otto engine (a version of the VW EA 111 engine produced under licence). This engine displaces 1.05 litres and is rated at 30 kW (41 PS) and a maximum torque of 72.6 N⋅m (54 lbf⋅ft). The torque is transmitted from the engine to the front wheels with a dry single-disc clutch and a manual four-speed gearbox. Unlike the Trabant 601, the 1.1 does not have a column mounted gear shifter, instead, it uses a floormounted gearshift lever on the right-hand side of the driver's seat.[5]

The fuel consumption is rated at 8 L/100 km (35 mpg‑imp; 29 mpg‑US), the top speed is 125 km/h (78 mph), and the acceleration from 0–100 km/h (62 mph) is said to be 22 seconds.[5]

References

  1. ^ Jacobs, A. J. (2017), Automotive FDI in Emerging Europe: Shifting Locales in the Motor Vehicle Industry, Springer Verlag, p. 112, ISBN 9781137407863
  2. ^ Oswald, Werner, ed. (2000), Kraftfahrzeuge der DDR (in German) (2nd ed.), Stuttgart: Motorbuch-Verlag, p. 60, ISBN 3-613-01913-2
  3. ^ Tuček, Jan (2009), Auta východního bloku [East Bloc Cars] (in Czech), Grada Publishing a.s., pp. 202–203, ISBN 9788024725857
  4. ^ Oswald 2000, p. 62.
  5. ^ a b c Oswald 2000, p. 64.