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Thursday, February 21, 2013

VW XL1 diesel-electric 314 mpg plug-in hybrid revealed

VW’s lightweight, VW XL1 promises an EU-certified economy of 0.9 l/100km - 314mpg and 21g/km CO2 emissions when it goes into limited production later this year following its Geneva motor show reveal next month.

Powered by a 47 hp two-cylinder 800cc TDI engine backed up by a 27 hp electric motor and plug-in 5.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the two-seat car is claimed to have a Cd rating of just 0.189.

The upshot is that the plug-in hybrid XL1 is probably the most economical and most aerodynamically efficient production car of all time. (The General Motors EV1 had a Cd of 0.195)

First shown as a running concept two years ago, the carbonfibre-bodied XL1 is being built at the VW-owned Karmann factory in Osnabrück, alongside the VW Golf cabriolet and the new Porsche Boxster.

Weighing just 795kg, the XL1 is some 3.8m long and 1.66m wide, which means it is only marginally smaller than a VW Polo supermini. However, it is only 1.15m high, some 129mm lower than a Boxster.

VW says the XL1 has its top speed limited to 99.4mph, but that it can hit 62mph in just 12.7sec. It uses aluminium double wishbone front suspension, a semi-trailing link suspension at the rear, carbonfibre reinforced plastic anti-roll bars and ceramic brake discs.

Source: Autocar

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