Volkswagen XL1 2013

[SIZE="1"]02.21.2013[/SIZE]

[B]VOLKSWAGEN ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF XL1, THE WORLD’S MOST EFFICIENT PRODUCTION CAR[/B]

[I]•Volkswagen to produce XL1 at its Osnabrück plant in Germany, using carbonfiber technology
•The XL1 is the most aerodynamic production car ever, with a Cd of 0.19
•261 mpg combined fuel consumption was a vision—now it’s a reality[/I]

Wolfsburg, Germany - The XL1 from Volkswagen is the most fuel-efficient production car in the world, with a European combined fuel consumption rating of 261 mpg. Thanks to its plug-in hybrid system, this two-seat vehicle can also cover up to 32 miles as a zero-emissions vehicle in all-electric mode.

The XL1 is an automotive standout that follows pure sports-car design principles: light weight (1753 pounds), exceptional aerodynamics (Cd 0.19), and a low center of gravity. This super-efficient Volkswagen thus has the ability to cruise down the road at a constant 62 mph while using just 8.3 horsepower. In all-electric mode, the XL1 requires less than 0.1 kWh to cover more than a kilometer.

The XL1 emits just 21 g/km of CO2, thanks to its high-tech lightweight design, aerodynamic efficiency, and a plug-in hybrid system consisting of a 47-hp two-cylinder TDI® engine, a 27-hp electric motor, a seven-speed DSG® dual-clutch automatic transmission, and a lithium-ion battery. The 261 mpg fuel consumption figure is a record that has not been achieved by any other vehicle to date, showing that Volkswagen is redefining what is technically feasible in the automotive industry. The XL1 also has a top speed of 99 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 12.7 seconds.

Conceptually, the XL1 represents the third evolutionary stage of Volkswagen’s 1-liter car strategy. When the new millennium was ushered in, Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Piëch, currently Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG, formulated the visionary goal of putting into production a practical car that had combined fuel consumption of one liter per 100 km (235 mpg). In the two-seat XL1, this vision has become reality.

Despite the tremendous efficiency of the XL1, the engineers and designers successfully came up with a body design which delivers more everyday utility than the two previous prototypes. In the [URL="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45679"]L1[/URL], the [URL="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45680"]1-liter car[/URL] that was shown in [URL="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45680"]2002[/URL] and [URL="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45679"]2009[/URL], the driver and passenger sat in a tandem arrangement for optimal aerodynamics; in the XL1, the two occupants sit slightly offset, side by side, almost like a conventional vehicle.

The XL1 is 153.1 inches long, 65.6 in wide, and just 45.4 in tall. By comparison, a Volkswagen Polo is slightly longer (156.3 in) and wider (66.2 in), but is significantly taller (57.6 in). Even a purebred sports car like today’s Porsche Boxster is 5.1 inches taller. The XL1 will look spectacular going down the highway—a car of the future, built for today.

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Why is there no rear window? It kinda looks like a retro-futurist Tatra.

It reminds me mostly of the Mk.1 Honda Insight, with it's Kamm tail and all.

[quote=pimento;992534]Why is there no rear window? It kinda looks like a retro-futurist Tatra.[/quote]

Digital camera I guess.

[quote=pimento;992534]Why is there no rear window? It kinda looks like a retro-futurist Tatra.[/quote]

[quote=Kitdy;992543]Digital camera I guess.[/quote]
The rear-view functions are made by two small cameras in the doors. There are no mirrors at all in this car. When you drive forwards the make the function of normal door rear-view mirrors and when you engage reverse they make the function of the inside rear view mirror.

AFAIK a feature like this is legat for road cars in Germany and Austria, but not anywhere else in Europe. I guess that a corporation the size of Volkswagen will get this changed easily.

The only problem I can see with this car is price. The trick drivetrain and carbonfibre construction don't come cheap...

Wouldn't they have saved a couple hundred pounds by removing the electric motor and batteries? That would have also allowed them to have a lower profile nose, or more trunk space at the least. If I got my hands on that little two cylinder, I'd swap it into a caterham and use the difference to make a new body for it.

ferrer, Alfa is hoping to sell the 4C cheap, and that has a carbon monocoque as well, so the price remains to be seen. It could be at a decent price.

No. That is all.

[quote=Magnum9987;992558]Wouldn't they have saved a couple hundred pounds by removing the electric motor and batteries? That would have also allowed them to have a lower profile nose, or more trunk space at the least. If I got my hands on that little two cylinder, I'd swap it into a caterham and use the difference to make a new body for it.[/quote]
The thing is though, because it's a plug-in hybrid fuel economy in the NEDC is measured differently from conventional fuel-only powered car or traditionals hybirds and that helps it achieve its exceptional figures. For instance the test is started with the battery fully chagred.

However, apparently it can do 450km on the 10 litre tank, so that still works out at 2,2l/100km (107mpg US / 128mpg UK) which is still impressive. I'd prefer the fuel tank to be a little big bigger and for me the plug-in malarkey is a bit of useless nonsense, for now at least. But still, definitely interested.

I recommend that all hybrids be plug-ins. It makes sense, not sure why they haven't always been plug-ins. Driven right, a PHEV can make phenomenal gains versus non-plug-ins. But this one is reaching. Like the original Honda Insight, this would really only appeal to a small, dedicated segment of folks who crave fuel economy and don't have to have more than 2 seats.

[quote=jcp123;992572]I recommend that all hybrids be plug-ins. It makes sense, not sure why they haven't always been plug-ins. Driven right, a PHEV can make phenomenal gains versus non-plug-ins. But this one is reaching. Like the original Honda Insight, this would really only appeal to a small, dedicated segment of folks who crave fuel economy and don't have to have more than 2 seats.[/quote]
I see the theory and I (mostly) agree with it.

The problem I have is, where the hell am I going to plug it?

Also, if I found the place (mainly Girona where we have have a house in the suburbs, not in Barcelona where we live in a flat with a shared underground car park) what if I left it charging more than it should, will doing that consistently destroy the batteries or the car disconnects itself once it is fully charged?

[quote=Ferrer;992586]
Also, if I found the place (mainly Girona where we have have a house in the suburbs, not in Barcelona where we live in a flat with a shared underground car park) what if I left it charging more than it should, will doing that consistently destroy the batteries or the car disconnects itself once it is fully charged?[/quote]

They probably thought of that.

Also the drivetrain is going to find its way into the Up?!?! for those who want more seats and some mirrors.

Most of the EV's and PHEV's I have seen in the US have two plugs, one for our standard 110v outlets and a second for the 220V outlets you see mostly for clothes dryers and the like. The former allows for convenient charging anywhere you can get to a plug; the second for a fast charge in the rare instance there's one of those big outlets available.

Yes, I understand hybrids have the battery charge, and only with the hybrid system in use can the car achieve its 261mpg rating. The problem with hybrids is that they only recover electricity when they are braking. The regenerative charging is only good in a congested area (cities). Hybrids are only decent on the highway because of aerodynamics. My uncles Prius only gets 33mpg on the highway. If I drove slower, I could do that in my Honda Civic. Lugging the extra weight around in my mind will always make the car less efficient. Especially with a diesel. Those engines run best at a constant load, at low speed. And the lighter that load is, the more efficiently the car will be. Diesels work by modulating Air/fuel ratios and boost pressure. The boost can increase, and the air/fuel ratio decreases to get more power when more load is applied. So, in a light car, their is less load on the engine, so it can run more leaner, and thus more efficiently. So, while theoretically a diesel hybrid is an ideal car in fuel efficiency, a lightweight diesel motor only car, would be that much better. on the highway at least

[quote=Magnum9987;992607]Yes, I understand hybrids have the battery charge, and only with the hybrid system in use can the car achieve its 261mpg rating. The problem with hybrids is that they only recover electricity when they are braking. The regenerative charging is only good in a congested area (cities). Hybrids are only decent on the highway because of aerodynamics. My uncles Prius only gets 33mpg on the highway. If I drove slower, I could do that in my Honda Civic. Lugging the extra weight around in my mind will always make the car less efficient. Especially with a diesel. Those engines run best at a constant load, at low speed. And the lighter that load is, the more efficiently the car will be. Diesels work by modulating Air/fuel ratios and boost pressure. The boost can increase, and the air/fuel ratio decreases to get more power when more load is applied. So, in a light car, their is less load on the engine, so it can run more leaner, and thus more efficiently. So, while theoretically a diesel hybrid is an ideal car in fuel efficiency, a lightweight diesel motor only car, would be that much better. on the highway at least[/quote]
This.

Except the last bit maybe, where the extra weight of the hybrid system could be offset by the fuel economy gains (cars aren't always driven in perfect conditions).

The thing is, a conventional diesel is much more frugal than a hybrid (let's assume there are only petrol-engined hybrids, since the PSA hybrids apparently are quite rubbish and this is an unknown quantity for the moment) out on the open road and especially in tough conditions. They are also faster and much cheaper.

I've driven a Prius. It felt good, comfy, spacious and quiet. It didn't handle and performance was adequate. If you forget about fuel economy and saving the world malarkey it's a good car to go from A to B. The problem is that it costs a lot more than a comparable diesel. So I guess that hybrids are still "work in progress" after all.

Hybrids aren't for highways, they're for commuting in places with a lot of traffic. Therefore you'll get much better fuel economy by catching the bus.

I can't wait for someone to make a good looking PHEV or total EV. They are all bulbous and many of them have ridiculous drag-reducing bits (come on, fender skirts in 2013). I understand the point but they are just ugly IMO.

[quote=ScionDriver;992695]I can't wait for someone to make a good looking PHEV or total EV. They are all bulbous and many of them have ridiculous drag-reducing bits (come on, fender skirts in 2013). I understand the point but they are just ugly IMO.[/quote]
Well, this has the proportions (and the doors) of a supercar.

Put some big tyres and stick some exhausts out the back and it looks like one...

[quote=Ferrer;992697]Put some big tyres and stick some exhausts out the back[/quote]

Nah. None of that is cool unless you put it on hydraulics.

[quote=ScionDriver;992695]I can't wait for someone to make a good looking PHEV or total EV. They are all bulbous and many of them have ridiculous drag-reducing bits (come on, fender skirts in 2013). I understand the point but they are just ugly IMO.[/quote]

Have you seen the Tesla Model S?

[quote=ScionDriver;992695]I can't wait for someone to make a good looking PHEV or total EV. They are all bulbous and many of them have ridiculous drag-reducing bits (come on, fender skirts in 2013). I understand the point but they are just ugly IMO.[/quote]

I think the styling of this car is a move in the right directions. I mean, its no 458 italia, yet it certainly looks better than say a Prius.

[quote=NSXType-R;992717]Have you seen the Tesla Model S?[/quote]

Have you seen the price tag of a Model S?

[quote=RacingManiac;992750]Have you seen the price tag of a Model S?[/quote]

Early adopters must suffer...

Isn't that the price of admission? :D

[quote=NSXType-R;992751]Early adopters must suffer...

Isn't that the price of admission? :D[/quote]

^^ why I'm not an early adopter. I'm just now getting around to smartphones. My first exposure to a DVR was about a year and change ago. I still don't know how to use an automatic coffeemaker. I can still spend hours poring over paper maps of just about any kind. I do most math in my head. And I carry a nice pen because handwriting with that is still a cheaper alternative to a computer and a printer, plus I don't have to wrestle with getting the document formatting just as I like it LOL.

Well, the Tesla notwithstanding. This is good looking but the fender skirts kill it for me.

[quote=jcp123;992763]^^ why I'm not an early adopter. I'm just now getting around to smartphones. My first exposure to a DVR was about a year and change ago. I still don't know how to use an automatic coffeemaker. I can still spend hours poring over paper maps of just about any kind. I do most math in my head. And I carry a nice pen because handwriting with that is still a cheaper alternative to a computer and a printer, plus I don't have to wrestle with getting the document formatting just as I like it LOL.[/quote]
That sound a lot like me... except for the coffee, that's a survival thing. :p

The Tesla Model S looks superb though. I'd like to have it with a conventional powertrain.

I make coffee with whole beans, a grinder, a kettle, a coffee filter, and a carafe. I am also still trying to perfect a Turkish coffee technique...but I'm giving up as you really can't get the right grind for that in this stupid town I live in.

Oh, yeah, and I still listen to records. I love the 33-1/3 snap crackle and pop.

I think if it's gonna be a hybrid, it might as well be a plug-in. How hard can it be to...put a cord on the damn thing?!

I am quite old school myself- I don't use a smart phone because I prefer buttons. I can call most of the people I need to reach from muscle memory.

But back to the topic- I checked the price of the Model S.

The cheapest Model S is only $52,400- not too terrible for a luxury car, but everything appears to be optional- cloth interior is standard, even for the top of the line sporty one, which starts at $87,000.

The wheelbase is identical to a BMW 5 series and is actually slightly longer than a BMW 5 series.

While the cheapest 5 series undercuts the Tesla by $4,000 or so, it's not really prohibitively expensive if you consider it in the same class as a 5 series.

[quote=RacingManiac;992750]Have you seen the price tag of a Model S?[/quote]

[url="http://www.teslamotors.com/models/options"]Model S Options Pricing | Tesla Motors[/url]

[url="http://www.teslamotors.com/models/specs"]Model S Specs | Tesla Motors[/url]

So far, it is the only full EV car in my opinion that can be considered an acceptable replacement.

Not bad. I think Tesla is finding the cost of building here, particularly with the efficiency of their production line, to not be as much of a penalty as perhaps they thought it might be.

I think for the same core folks who bought the original Insight, though, this VW would be a decent replacement. Especially if they can keep the cost roughly in line with, say, a Prius PHEV.