Review written on 5/1958.
Philadelphia Motors is in a unique position with the Berliner. The Hatchback segment rules the everyone else market. While the I1783 is the worst vehicle in the segment. Where does the Berliner fit between these two extremes? Should consumer celebrate Philadelphia Motors's new Hatchback? Or is this just another underachieving vehicle in the Hatchback segment?

The first stop for the Philadelphia Motors Berliner was the track. I won't lie. I was scared. This Hatchback is built for performance. Philadelphia Motors cut no corners when designing this vehicle for speed. The vomit stains on the carpet prove that the 79 hp @ 4715RPMs 1803 cc Wankel  engine roars this rocket to a top speed of 91 mph in an impressive 23.845s 0 to 60 mph. With 71 lb-ft of torque, our smoking wheels were able to tow 22 lbs. I'm guilty wanting to steal this one for my self. When we took the Philadelphia Motors Berliner out to the we were amazed at its ability to stick to the track. There was no need to let off the gas even on the tightest of corners. For a Hatchback the Berliner is extremely impressive.

While certainly does not have the best features or materials. The Philadelphia Motors Berliner does provide the bare necessities required in a vehicle of this type. No more and no less. As well as it should. If you wanted to spend that extra bit you would of bought the better vehicle. Was Philadelphia Motors wise in this respect? Maybe, but we do think they should of offered at least a little more bang for the buck so to speak.

Above average to good is what a friend of mine said when trying to load some junk into the 32 cu-ft of space inside the Philadelphia Motors Berliner. He was right! The Berliner is above average for vehicles in this segment. It is one of the more practical vehicles of this type on the market.

The manufacturing process of Philadelphia Motors has really found something. The Berliner seems like a hand built car through and through. The workmanship is amazing. Only fine artisans could produce something like this.

If there was one vehicle I believe would be able to hit 1,000,000 miles easily it would be the Philadelphia Motors Berliner. This vehicle was designed for dependability in mind.

When it came to fuel economy testing we tried to see how far we could go in the Philadelphia Motors Berliner. Our goal was to run it out of fuel. We tried and we failed. Even when the Berliner fuel gauge was below E, it kept going! Befuddled at this we asked Philadelphia Motors engineers how this is possible. They showed us their Motor Bunny fuel system, which just keeps going and going and going and going for an impressive 40.7 mpg. In one word, amazing.

You could really tell the engineers at Philadelphia Motors designed the Berliner to save lives. This vehicle not only reduces the risk of being killed in it, but reduces the risk of being killed from it. This vehicle should be looked at as a marvel of preventative engineering.

I was happy with the time I spent in the Philadelphia Motors Berliner. This car is truly magnificent. I think future generations will look back at this vehicle and think, "I wish I owned one of these." It is absolutely one of the best Hatchback you can buy. An instant classic that others in the segment will be compared to. I wish I could spend more time with the Berliner but it is time for them to take it away. I believe I might go buy one myself.