VW to roll out 313mpg car in Germany and UK

Last week at the Qatar Motor Show saw the world debut of Volkswagen’s XL1, a diesel-electric hybrid two-seater that can do 313mpg (0.9 l/100 km) and an announcement that the vehicle will enter limited production for the UK and German markets in 2013. If it proves popular, VW says it plans to increase production and sell in other countries.
May 18, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Last week at the Qatar Motor Show saw the world debut of 994 Volkswagen’s XL1, a diesel-electric hybrid two-seater that can do 313mpg (0.9 l/100 km) and an announcement that the vehicle will enter limited production for the UK and German markets in 2013. If it proves popular, VW says it plans to increase production and sell in other countries.

Conceptually, the XL1 represents the third evolutionary stage of Volkswagen’s 1-litre car strategy first unveiled 10 years ago. When the new millennium was ushered in, Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Piëch, who is now Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG, formulated the visionary goal of bringing to the market a production car that was practical for everyday use with a fuel consumption of 1.0 litre per 100 km.

The latest version of the car, which has staggered side-by-side seating for two adults and is capable of a top speed of 160 km/h (99mph), attains a CO2 emissions value of just 24 g/km, thanks to a combination of lightweight construction (monocoque and add-on parts made of carbon fibre), very low aerodynamic drag (Cd 0.186) and a plug-in hybrid system - consisting of a two cylinder TDI engine (35 kW / 48 PS), E-motor (20 kW / 27 PS), 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DSG) and lithium-ion battery.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • US drivers turning to alternative fuel vehicles says research
    December 19, 2012
    Increasing numbers of US customers are turning to alternative fuel vehicles, according to the latest research from Mintel, which shows that sales are up 73%, with nearly 440,000 hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electrics sold thus far this year. The rapid sales growth in hybrid and electric vehicles makes the segment the fastest growing in the US for 2012, supplanting the still fast growing, compact car vehicle segment. The number of plug-in and electric models available to the public has nearly quadrupled over
    Read More
  • Audi in the spotlight over emissions
    December 16, 2016
    Audi's top-selling model released excessive toxic diesel emissions in results from lab tests run by the European Commission and seen by Reuters, raising suspicions of wrongdoing at Volkswagen's luxury division. The results threaten to embroil Audi in the scandal that has engulfed the company since it admitted cheating US emissions tests with software to mask nitrogen oxides (NOx). The lab tests run by the European Commission's Joint Research Center (JRC) in August showed the latest Euro 6 diesel gener
    Read More
  • New US fuel efficiency standards would cost over US$65 billion in lost revenue
    April 17, 2012
    Friday’s proposal by the Obama Administration to increase fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks to an average 54.5 miles per gallon (4.32 litres/100 km) between 2017 and 2025 would result in the loss of more than $65 billion in federal funding for state and local highway, bridge and transit improvements, an analysis by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) shows.
    Read More
  • VW goes electric in China
    April 30, 2018
    Volkswagen will invest €15bn in electric and autonomous vehicles (AVs) in China by 2022, according to a report by Euractiv.com. Herbert Diess, the German carmaker’s chief executive, claimed at a press conference in Beijing that the money would make mobility cleaner, safer and more intelligent to help improve people's lives.
    Read More

Highlighted Content