Volkswagen AG officials have made conflicting statements concerning the potential for a production version of the 70-mpg Up Lite diesel-electric concept car that was unveiled this week at the Los Angeles auto show.

Some note that the concept shares many of its components with other VW models, and thus would be relatively easy to produce. Gregor Dietz, VW’s concept cars boss, told Autocar that a commercial version of the car is a realistic target.

But other VW executives say the vehicle, at least in its concept form, would be much too expensive to produce. Ulrich Hackenberg, who heads VW’s technical development, says teaming the car’s use of exotic materials, lithium-ion battery and diesel engine would make the car too expensive, especially for the small-car market.

VW has shown several Up! concept models in the last two years, including an all-electric derivative earlier this fall at the Frankfurt auto show. The base hatchback is scheduled to be launched in Europe in two years. Sedan and minivan variants also are said to be in the works, and an electric version is on tap for 2014-possibly followed by an extended-range plug-in hybrid a year later.

The three-door Up Lite shares a platform with the other concepts. But it is slightly larger, measuring 151 inches from bumper to bumper and 63 inches wide. It has 30 cu ft of cargo space available behind the rear seats. The car’s coefficient of drag is an impressive 0.23. Other aerodynamic contributors include an active front radiator grille that is only opened as needed and rearview cameras that replace traditional external side mirrors.

The car’s upper body section is made of aluminum, and the roof and some structural components use carbon fiber. The lightweight materials allow the latest Up concept to tip the scales at just 1,530 lbs. Design cues are borrowed from other VW models, such as the front end from the Polo and Golf and the narrow hatch and flared wheel arches from this year’s L1 concept car. The car’s rear end, window lines and other unique elements are expected to lead VW into a new styling direction.

The hybrid drivetrain teams an 800-cc two-cylinder diesel engine (based on the Golf Bluemotion’s 1.6-liter mill) and seven-speed DSG transmission with a small lithium-ion battery, 10-kW electric motor and automatic stop-start system. The battery/motor can power the car on its own for 1.25 miles, or assist the engine under acceleration. Combined output is 65 hp with a top speed of 100 mph, while 0-60 mph acceleration is listed as 12 seconds.

Last month Ralph Gilles, Chrysler Group LLC’s new Dodge brand chief, suggested the marque’s Viper sports car could partner in some way with new owner Fiat SpA’s uber-exotic Ferrari unit. But in a recent interview with Leftlane News, he clarified his earlier remarks.

Emphasizing that Ferrari is Ferrari and Viper is Viper, he says there won’t be any parts sharing between the nameplates. Gilles adds that any advice that Ferrari engineers could offer their American counterparts would be welcome.

Japan’s Teijin Ltd. has developed a new polycarbonate resin for car windows that is 30% lighter than glass. The material will be launched late next year in Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus LFA sports coupe in Japan, The Nikkei says.

Developed by Teijin group firm Teijin Chemicals Ltd., the new resin’s shock resistance is 200 times greater than that of glass. Such resins typically can be easily scratched and are susceptible to warping during production. But Teijin, working with Toyota Industries Corp., says it has overcome the problems by using a large injection-molding machine and employing a newly developed surface treatment technology.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. says it will begin selling its redesigned Colt supermini in the U.S. next year. In Europe, three- and five-door variants are available as well as the sportier Ralliart version. It’s not clear which of the body styles will be offered in the U.S. The European car’s 1.5-liter engine, which makes 104 hp and a like amount of torque, likely will get more oomph in the U.S.

Beru AG is developing new high-power ceramic registers with electronic control for hybrid/electrical vehicles. The company currently is testing the system, which compensates for the lower waste heat generated by battery-powered vehicles, in pilot programs for BMW AG’s Mini E concept all-electric vehicle in the U.S. and Europe.

The new high-voltage Beru heaters replace the water heat exchanger and conventional positive-temperature-coefficient auxiliary heater in the Mini E’s HVAC system. Connected to the EV’s 400-volt electrical system, the 4-lb Beru units have a heat output of 3,000 watts. In comparison, a traditional Beru heater running off an internal combustion engine weighs less than 2 lbs and achieves a heat output of 500 to 2,000 watts depending on the application.