VW's Malibu-based Moonraker program's first child has been officially euthanized. When it debuted at the LA Auto Show this past January, VW was rumored to be bringing it to production. According to Wolfsburg's man-in-the-States Adrian Hallmark, "It would not have been possible for us to build the GX3 with the purity that it required, at the price which prospective customers told us they would be willing to pay." Cantor Fitzgerald's Stephen Pope was more blunt: "[A three-wheeled car] smacks a bit of stupidity to me. Nice concept, thank you very much, but keep it in the design studio." There's a fine line between stupidity and genius. Just ask Ferdinand Pi ch. [Thanks to Lars for the tip.]

Volkswagen Drops 3-Wheel Car Plan on Legal Concerns (Update1) [Bloomberg]

GX3: Flies and Death and Stuff [Internal]

Ruh roh. Apparently, VW's lawyers have cyanided the wacky three-wheeled GX3 that was even closer to production than we'd realized. The boys in Hethel (otherwise known as Lotus) were advising the Dubyas on methods of low-vol production while retaining viable mershness for the two-seater. What's more, the car had been promised to dealers. All was at T-minus-ten for a launch next year, but since the GX3 was not quite a car, not yet a motorcycle (though it would be classified as such here in the States), it sounds like Moonraker's first big project will be stillborn. [Thanks to Brendan for the tip.]

One wheel too many—or too few? [AutoWeek]

Related:
What Hath Moonraker Wrought? Why, the Volkswagen GX3! [Internal]

Oh, you thought that thumbnail of an open-wheel roadster was of an Ariel Atom, or some track-day Caterham or reworked Formula Vee? Nuh uh. It's that wacky VW GX3 three-wheeler the company showed off at the Los Angeles Auto Show this past January. Edmunds has the shots and the scoop, the upshot of which may be that VW is crazier than a bowl of hello.

Spy photos: Volkswagen GX3 prototype spotted [Edmunds Straightline Blog]

Related:
What Hath Moonraker Wrought? Why, the Volkswagen GX3! [internal]

Spurred by the revelation of VW's GX3 at the Los Angeles Auto Show earlier today, reader Mark writes in to point out that "VW have simply built themselves an ugly T-Rex with a weaker engine." We're not totally sold on the GX3's looks, but we can't say we're in love with the appearance of the T-Rex by any stretch of the imagination. We're not sure of the engine's origin; we do know that it's not a Hayabusa mill, however, as it's 100cc's shy of the monster bike's displacement. Still, 0-60 in 4.6 seconds? We'll go for the ride.

T-Rex

Related:
What Hath Moonraker Wrought? Why, the Volkswagen GX3 [Internal]

Put a bunch of V-Dubya types together in Malibu and whaddaya get? 1,267 lbs that'll outcorner a 'Vette. The result of Volkswagen's Project Moonraker and the German automaker's California Design Center, the 1.6-litre, 120hp tricycle built for two, which supposedly stands a shot at production, would cost around 17k, run to 60 in 5.7 seconds and hit 1.25 g's on the skidpad. Time to make the donuts? Decide after the jump.

Related:
Volkswagen Preparing an "Unusual" Concept Car for Los Angeles; The VW Scooter: Volkswagen's LA Concept's Forebear? [Internal]