The Volkswagen XL1 (VW 1-Litre) is a two-person limited production diesel-powered plug-in hybrid produced by Volkswagen. The XL1 car was designed to be able to travel 100 km on 1 litre of diesel fuel (280 mpgâ€'imp; 240 mpgâ€'US), while being both roadworthy and practical. To achieve such economy, it is produced with lightweight materials, a streamlined body and an engine and transmission designed and tuned for economy. The concept car was modified first in 2009 as the L1 and again in 2011 as the XL1.
A limited production of 250 units began by mid 2013 and pricing starts at €111,000 (~ US$146,000). The Volkswagen XL1 plug-in diesel-electric hybrid is available only in Europe and its 5.5 kWh lithium-ion battery delivers an all-electric range of 50 km (31 mi), has a fuel economy of 0.9 l/100 km (260 mpgâ€'US; 310 mpgâ€'imp) under the NEDC cycle and produces emissions of 21 g/km of CO2. The XL1 was released to retail customers in Germany in June 2014.
History
Prototype
The prototype VW 1-Litre concept car was shown to the public in April 2002 when Dr. Ferdinand Piech, then Chairman of the Board of Management, drove the concept between Wolfsburg and Hamburg as part of the Volkswagen annual meeting of stockholders.
For aerodynamics, the car seats two in tandem, 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 total aerodynamic drag is minimal because both the drag coefficient and frontal area are small (see drag equation). The drag coefficient (Cd) is 0.159, 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 an aircraft-style canopy, flat wheel covers and an underbelly cover to smooth the airflow. The engine cooling vents open only as needed.
For light weight, the car uses an unpainted carbon fibre skin over a magnesium-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 290Â kg (639Â 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 has anti-lock brakes, airbags with pressure sensors, and stability control.
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 mpgâ€'US; 285 mpgâ€'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.
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 fall somewhere between €20,000 and €30,000.
2009 model
The second Volkswagen 1-litre car, named L1, was first shown to the public at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. 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.
The L1 continues the two-seater tandem concept first shown in the 2002 1-litre concept. It has a curb weight of 381Â kg (840Â lb), with a low coefficient of drag of 0.195. It is 3.813Â m (12.5Â ft) in length, 1.143Â m (3.8Â ft) tall and 1.2Â m (3.9Â ft) wide. Frontal area is 1.02 m2 giving a drag area (CdA) of 0.199 m2.
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. Volkswagen claimed the L1 can achieve a top speed of 158 km/h (99 mph), with 0â€"100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in 14.3 s.
2011 model
The XL1 is the third iteration of the Volkswagen 1-litre car, unveiled at the 2011 Qatar Motor Show. The diesel plug-in hybrid prototype is branded as a "Super Efficient Vehicle" (SEV).
According to Volkswagen, the XL1 can achieve a combined fuel consumption of 0.9 litres per 100 kilometres (310 mpgâ€'imp; 260 mpgâ€'US) and CO2 emissions of 24 g/km. Like the L1, the XL1 uses a two-cylinder turbo-diesel. Displacing 800 cm3, it is rated at 35 kW (47 hp) and 121 Nm (89 lb-ft) of torque and transmits power to the rear wheels through a seven-speed DSG transmission. The electric motor pitches in with 20 kW (27 hp) and 100 Nm (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 a curb weight of 795 kg (1,753 lb), and a drag coefficient of Cd=0.186 (a similar drag coefficient to the General Motors EV1 electric car). Frontal area is 1.5 m2 giving a drag area of CdA=0.28 m2. Just 23.2% of the car (184 kg (406 lb)) is made out of either steel or iron; the drivetrain weighs 227 kg (500 lb). The XL1's length and width are similar to the Volkswagen 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 incorporates butterfly doors, with the interior seating layout using a staggered side-by-side arrangement similar to a Smart Fortwo, rather than the previous versions' tandem seating.
Performance credentials include a governed top speed of 158Â km/h (98.2Â mph), with acceleration to 100Â km/h (62.1Â mph) in 11.9Â seconds.
Production version
In February 2012, Volkswagen confirmed that it would build a limited series of XL1s starting in 2013. The production version of the plug-in diesel-electric hybrid was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.
Specifications
In February 2013, Volkswagen announced that it expected the XL1 to achieve a fuel economy of 0.9 l/100 km (260 mpgâ€'US; 310 mpgâ€'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 mpgâ€'US; 140 mpgâ€'imp). As with the 2011 concept XL1, it is powered by an 800 cm3 two-cylinder diesel engine with 35 kW (48 PS; 47 bhp) and a 20 kW (27 PS; 27 bhp) electric motor, delivering power to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The drag coefficient has increased slightly from 0.186 to 0.189. The production version is expected to deliver an all-electric range of 50 km (31 mi).
Production and sales
Production began by mid 2013 and it will be limited to 250 units. A total of 50 units had been built by early September 2013, and the remaining 200 XL1s are scheduled to be built in the second quarter of 2014. Pricing starts at €111,000 (~ US$146,000). The XL1 will be available in Europe only. Retail deliveries began in Germany in June 2014.
Of the 250 units to be produced, 200 will be sold to retail customers. Volkswagen opened a registration process for interested customers that closed on October 18, 2013. Because more than 200 potential buyers registered, a draw will be conducted to select the customers with a purchase option for the available cars. They will be offered a purchase contract and after the payment of a €20,000 (~ US$27,000) deposit, the purchase agreement for a XL1 will be binding.
Reception
The Volkswagen XL1 was selected in February 2014 as one of the top five finalists for the 2014 World Car of the Year.
See also
- Electric car use by country
- Plug-in electric vehicle
- Plug-in hybrid
- List of modern production plug-in electric vehicles
References
External links
- Volkswagen press release, 15 April 2002, "The 1-liter car" (archived)
- Volkswagen press release, 15 September 2009, E-Up! and L1 (archived)
- Official Volkswagen 1-Litre car press release
- Official Volkswagen L1 press release
- Official Volkswagen XL1 press release
- Supercars 1-litre report
