| Volkswagen XL1 | |
|---|---|
 2015 Volkswagen XL1 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen |
| Production | 2013–2016 (250 Units) |
| Model years | 2014–2016 |
| Assembly | Germany:Osnabrück[1] |
| Designer | Klaus Bischoff,Thomas Ingenlath, Peter Wouda |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Subcompact car |
| Body style | 2-doorcoupé |
| Layout | RMR layout |
| Doors | Butterfly |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 800 cc TDI twin-cylinder, common-railturbo-diesel 35 kW (48 PS; 47 hp)[2] |
| Electric motor | 20 kW (27 PS; 27 bhp) |
| Hybrid drivetrain | parallel Hybrid |
| Battery | 5.5kWhlithium-ion battery[3] |
| Electric range | 50 kilometres (31 mi)[3] |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,225 mm (87.6 in) |
| Length | 3,888 mm (153.1 in) |
| Width | 1,666 mm (65.6 in) |
| Height | 1,153 mm (45.4 in) |
| Curb weight | 795 kg (1,753 lb)[3] |
TheVolkswagen XL1 (VW 1-litre) is a two-person limited productiondiesel-poweredplug-in hybrid produced byVolkswagen.
Capable of travelling 100 km on 1 litre ofdiesel (280 mpg‑imp; 240 mpg‑US), with a fully charged battery, the XL1 was both roadworthy and practical.[4] Without using electricity, the XL can travel 100 km on 2 litres ofdiesel.[5] To achieve its economy, the XL1 used lightweight materials, astreamlined body and an engine and transmission designed and tuned for economy. The concept car was modified first in 2009 as theL1[6] and again in 2011 as theXL1.[7]
A limited production of 250 began by mid 2013 with pricing started at€111,000 (~£119,000). As aplug-in diesel-electric hybrid, the XL1 was available only in Europe and its 5.5kWhlithium-ion battery delivered anall-electric range of 50 km (31 mi),[3] had afuel economy of 0.9 L/100 km (310 mpg‑imp) under theNEDC cycle and produced emissions of 21 g/km of CO2.[8] It was released to retail customers in Germany in June 2014.[3]
The prototype VW 1-litreconcept car was shown to the public in April 2002 whenFerdinand Piëch, then chairman of the board of management, drove the concept between Wolfsburg and Hamburg as part of the Volkswagen annual meeting ofstockholders.
For aerodynamics, the car seats two intandem, rather than side-by-side. There are no rear view mirrors and it instead uses cameras and electronic displays. The rear wheels are close together to allow a streamlined body. The totalaerodynamic drag is minimal because both thedrag coefficient and frontal area are small (seedrag equation). Thedrag coefficient (Cd) is 0.159,[4] compared to 0.30 - 0.40 for typical cars.
The external dimensions of the car are 3.47 m (11.4 ft) long, 1.25 m (4.1 ft) wide and 1.10 m (3.6 ft) tall. There is 80 L (2.8 cu ft) of storage space. The car features anaircraft-style canopy, flat wheel covers and an underbelly cover to smooth the airflow. The engine cooling vents open only as needed.
.jpg)
For light weight, the car uses an unpaintedcarbon fibre skin over amagnesium-alloy subframe. Individual components have been designed to be low weight, including engine, transmission, suspension, wheels (carbon fibre), brakes (aluminium), hubs (titanium), bearings (ceramic), interior, and so on. Empty vehicle weight is 290 kg (639 lb).
The body and frame are designed with crush/crumple zones and roll-over protection, and the tandem seating means large side crush zones. Volkswagen claims protection comparable to a GT racing car. The car hasanti-lock brakes, airbags with pressure sensors, andstability control.[9]
The engine is a one-cylinder 299 cm3 (18 cu in) diesel producing just 6.3 kW (8.4 hp). It drives through a six-speed transmission that combines stick-shift mechanics, weight, and drive efficiency with automatic convenience and efficiency controls. There is no clutch pedal. The gear selection (forwards, reverse or neutral) is made using a switch on the right-hand side of the cockpit. The engine is switched off automatically during deceleration and stops, and auto-restarted when the acceleration pedal is pressed.
According to Volkswagen, the vehicle consumes 0.99 L/100 km (238 mpg‑US; 285 mpg‑imp), giving it a 650 km (404 mi) driving range on one tank of fuel.
At the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show senior VW exec Ferdinand Piëch claimed the car would be available by the end of the decade.[10][11]
Around June 2008 car magazines were reporting a powerplant change to a two-cylinder diesel-electric hybrid. Volkswagen only expected the car to be a limited production run, and prices were expected by one industry insider to be between €20,000 and €30,000.[10][11]
The second Volkswagen 1-litre car, namedL1, was first shown to the public at the 2009Frankfurt Motor Show.[12] Limited production of the VW L1 was expected to start in 2013 but with the announcement of the XL1 in 2011 this was considered unlikely.[13]
The L1 continues the two-seater tandem concept first shown in the 2002 1-litre concept. It has acurb weight of 381 kg (840 lb), with a low coefficient of drag of 0.195. It is 3.813 m (12.5 ft) in length, 1.143 m (3.8 ft) tall and 1.2 m (3.9 ft) wide. Frontal area is 1.02 m2 (11.0 sq ft), giving adrag area (CdA) of 0.199 m2 (2.14 sq ft).
It uses one half of a 1.6-litre TDI engine in a hybrid installation. The 800 cm3, twin-cylinder, common-rail turbodiesel is joined by a 10 kW (13.4 hp) electric motor and has a CO2 emission 39 g/km. The engine operates in two modes: "eco" mode, giving 20 kW (27 hp), and "sport" mode giving 29 kW (39 hp). The electric motor provides extra acceleration and can power the L1 on its own for short distances.[2] Volkswagen claimed the L1 can achieve a top speed of 158 km/h (98 mph), with 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) acceleration in 14.3 s.[14]
TheXL1 is the third iteration of the Volkswagen 1-litre car, unveiled at the 2011Qatar Motor Show. Thedieselplug-in hybridprototype is branded as a "Super Efficient Vehicle" (SEV).[15]
According to Volkswagen, the XL1 can achieve a combinedfuel consumption of 0.9 litres per 100 kilometres (310 mpg‑imp; 260 mpg‑US)[16] andCO2 emissions of 24 g/km. Like the L1, the XL1 uses a two-cylinder turbo-diesel. Displacing 800 cm3 (49 cu in), it is rated at 35 kW (47 hp) and 121 N⋅m (89 lb⋅ft) of torque and transmits power to the rear wheels through a seven-speedDSG transmission. The electric motor pitches in with 20 kW (27 hp) and 100 N⋅m (74 lb⋅ft) of torque, and can work in parallel with the diesel or drive the car independent of it. Fully charged, the XL1 can travel up to 35 km (22 mi) on electric power.
The XL1 has acurb weight of 795 kg (1,753 lb), and a drag coefficient of Cd=0.186 (a similar drag coefficient to theGeneral Motors EV1electric car). Frontal area is 1.5 m2 giving a drag area of CdA=0.28 m2.[17]Just 23.2% of the car (184 kg (406 lb)) is made out of eithersteel oriron; the drivetrain weighs 227 kg (500 lb). The XL1's length and width are similar to theVolkswagen Polo, with a length of 3,970 mm (156.3 in) and width of 1,682 mm (66.2 in). However, the car is much lower with a height of only 1,184 mm (46.6 in), and has a coupe-like roofline, reducing interior volume. The design incorporatesbutterfly doors, with the interior seating layout using a staggered side-by-side arrangement similar to aSmart Fortwo, rather than the previous versions' tandem seating.
Performance credentials include a governed top speed of 158 km/h (98.2 mph), with acceleration to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 11.9 seconds.[18][19]
In February 2012, Volkswagen confirmed that it would build a limited series of XL1s starting in 2013.[20] The production version of the plug-in diesel-electric hybrid was unveiled at the 2013Geneva Motor Show.[21]
As with the 2011 concept XL1, it is powered by an 800 cm3 two-cylinder diesel engine with 35 kW (47 hp) and a 20 kW (27 hp) electric motor. The combined power output is 51 kW (68 hp) and torque is 140 N⋅m (100 lb⋅ft).[22] Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The wheels are fitted withlow rolling resistance tyres sized 115/80 R15 (front) and 145/55 R16 (rear).[23] The drag coefficient has increased slightly from 0.186 to 0.189.[5] The production version delivers anall-electric range of 50 km (31 mi),[21][22] in addition to a 10-litre fuel tank[5] which allows for over 400 km (250 mi) of real-life driving until the car needs to be refueled.[5]
In February 2013, Volkswagen announced that it expected the XL1 to achieve a fuel consumption of 0.9 L/100 km (260 mpg‑US; 310 mpg‑imp) and emissions of 21 g/km of CO2. The test cycle allows for a re-charge of the battery every 75 km (47 mi) which results in a high mpg value.
Using diesel alone the car is capable of up to 2.0 L/100 km (120 mpg‑US; 140 mpg‑imp).[5] One reviewer found that, in real-life traffic, with air conditioning on and without attempts athypermiling, the car is able to reliably achieve 2.3 L/100 km (100 mpg‑US; 120 mpg‑imp).[24]
Production began by mid 2013 and was limited to 250 units. A total of 50 units had been built by early September 2013, and the remaining 200 XL1s were scheduled to be built in the second quarter of 2014. Prices started at€111,000. The XL1 was available in Europe only.[8] Retail deliveries began in Germany in June 2014.[3]
Of the 250 units to be produced, 200 were to be sold to retail customers. Volkswagen opened a registration process for interested customers that closed on 18 October 2013. Because more than 200 potential buyers registered, a drawing was conducted to select the customers with a purchase option for the available cars. They were offered a purchase contract and after the payment of a€20,000 deposit, the purchase agreement for an XL1 was binding.[25][26]
The Volkswagen XL1 was selected in February 2014 as one of the top five finalists for the 2014World Car of the Year.
