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Volkswagen XL1
2015 Volkswagen XL1
Overview
Manufacturer	Volkswagen
Production	2013–2016 (250 Units)
Model years	2015–2016
Assembly	Germany: Osnabrück
Designer	Klaus Bischoff, Thomas Ingenlath, Peter Wouda
Body and chassis
Class	Subcompact car
Body style	2-door coupé
Layout	RMR layout
Doors	Butterfly
Powertrain
Engine	800 cc TDI twin-cylinder, common-rail turbo-diesel 35 kW (48 PS; 47 hp)
Electric motor	20 kW (27 PS; 27 bhp)
Hybrid drivetrain	parallel Hybrid
Battery	5.5 kWh lithium-ion battery
Electric range	50 kilometres (31 mi)
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)

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 (280 mpg_‑imp; 240 mpg_‑US), with a fully charged battery, while being both roadworthy and practical. Without using electric, the XL is able to travel 100 km on 2 litres of diesel. To achieve such economy, it was 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 started at €111,000 (~ £119,000). The Volkswagen XL1 plug-in diesel-electric hybrid was available only in Europe and its 5.5 kWh lithium-ion battery delivered an all-electric range of 50 km (31 mi), had a fuel economy of 0.9 L/100 km (310 mpg_‑imp) under the NEDC cycle and produced emissions of 21 g/km of CO₂. The XL1 was released to retail customers in Germany in June 2014.

History

2002 VW 1-litre model

The prototype VW 1-litre concept car was shown to the public in April 2002 when Ferdinand Piëch, 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 (C_d) 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 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 has anti-lock brakes, airbags with pressure sensors, and stability control.

The engine is a one-cylinder 299 cm (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.

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.

2009 VW L1 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 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 m (11.0 sq ft), giving a drag area (C_dA) of 0.199 m (2.14 sq ft).

It uses one half of a 1.6-litre TDI engine in a hybrid installation. The 800 cm, 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 (98 mph), with 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) acceleration in 14.3 s.

2011 VW XL1 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 mpg_‑imp; 260 mpg_‑US) and CO₂ emissions of 24 g/km. Like the L1, the XL1 uses a two-cylinder turbo-diesel. Displacing 800 cm (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-speed DSG 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 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 m giving a drag area of CdA=0.28 m. 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 158 km/h (98.2 mph), with acceleration to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 11.9 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.

As with the 2011 concept XL1, it is powered by an 800 cm 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). Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The wheels are fitted with low rolling resistance tyres sized 115/80 R15 (front) and 145/55 R16 (rear). The drag coefficient has increased slightly from 0.186 to 0.189. The production version delivers an all-electric range of 50 km (31 mi), in addition to a 10-litre fuel tank which allows for over 400 km (250 mi) of real-life driving until the car needs to be refueled.

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). One reviewer found that, in real-life traffic, with air conditioning on and without attempts at hypermiling, the car is able to reliably achieve 2.3 L/100 km (100 mpg_‑US; 120 mpg_‑imp).

• Frontal view of the 2013 production XL1
• Rear view of the 2013 production XL1
• Volkswagen XL1 cockpit 2013 Tokyo Motor Show

Production and sales

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. Retail deliveries began in Germany in June 2014.

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.

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

1. "Know your VW factories: Osnabrück". Heritage Parts Centre. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
2. ^ Blanco, Sebastian (14 September 2009). "Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen L1 Concept, the "most fuel-efficient automobile in the world", gets 170 mpg". AutoBlog. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
3. ^ Torregrossa, Michaël (5 June 2014). "Le premier exemplaire de la XL1 livré en Allemagne" [The first unit of the XL1 delivered in Germany] (in French). Association pour l'Avenir du Véhicule Electrique Méditerranéen (AVEM). Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
4. ^ "Volkswagen baut das erste 1-Liter-Auto der Welt" (in German). Volkswagen AG. Archived from the original on 18 February 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
5. ^ "Volkswagen XL1 revealed". Auto Express. 21 February 2013. Archived from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
6. Jones, Benjamin (7 May 2008). "VW Confirms 1L Concept Will Become Reality in 2010". Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
7. "2014 Volkswagen XL1". Car and Driver. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
8. ^ Loveday, Eric (3 September 2013). "Volkswagen XL1 to be Priced at $146,000". InsideEVs.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
9. Wilson, Greg (5 June 2002). "VW 1-Litre-Car". Canadian Driver. Retrieved 5 June 2002.
10. ^ "VW boss confirms 1-Liter car for 2010". 9 October 2007. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
11. ^ "Car magazine 30 June 2008". Carmagazine.co.uk. 30 June 2008. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
12. Horrell, Paul (18 September 2009). "Frankfurt Motor Show: Volkswagen L1 Concept". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 22 September 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
13. Wood, Colum (15 September 2009). "Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen L1 Concept Gets 170 MPG, Production Planned for 2013". Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
14. "Volkswagen Futures official website". Volkswagen.co.uk. 22 February 1999. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
15. "Volkswagen press release". Volkswagen.co.uk. 22 February 1999. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
16. "Volkswagen to debut XL1 PHEV prototype at Qatar Motor Show; fuel consumption of 0.9 L/100 km (261 mpg US)". Green Car Congress. 25 January 2011. Archived from the original on 30 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
17. "Volkswagen CarScene TV: Volkswagen XL1 - Vision wird Realität (in german)". Youtube.com. 3 February 2011. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
18. Schultz, Jonathan (25 January 2011). "Volkswagen Previews Refreshed 261 M.P.G. XL1 Prototype". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
19. Holmes, Jake (31 January 2011). "Volkswagen XL1 Concept - Auto Shows". Car and Driver. Archived from the original on 29 January 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
20. "Volkswagen to launch diesel-powered XL1 plug-in hybrid in 2013". Left Lane News. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
21. ^ Volkswagen Media Services (21 February 2013). "Volkswagen to produce XL1 diesel plug-in hybrid at Osnabrück; 261 mpg US". Green Car Congress. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
22. ^ De Haes, Johan (25 January 2019). VW XL1 POV test drive. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2019 – via YouTube.
23. "XL1" (PDF) (Press release). UK: Volkswagen. February 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 September 2017.
24. "VW XL1 - ile pali naprawdę? [VW XL1 - how much does it really consume?]". autocentrum.pl (in Polish). 11 May 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
25. Kroghhkrogh, Henning (9 October 2013). "Vergabe der Kleinstserie: VW lenktXL-1-Fans auf Zielgerade" [Allocation of micro series: VW XL1 draws fans to finish line]. Automobilwoche (in German). Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
26. Inautonews (28 October 2013). "Orders For 261-MPG Volkswagen XL1 Exceed Production of 200". Green Car Reports. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.

External links

• Volkswagen press release, 15 April 2002, "The 1-litre car" (archived) Archived 19 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine
• Volkswagen press release, 15 September 2009, E-Up! and L1 (archived) Archived 19 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine
• Official Volkswagen 1-Litre car press release
• Official Volkswagen L1 press release
• Official Volkswagen XL1 press release
• Supercars 1-litre report

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