[Auto] Volkswagen XL1, the two-seat spaceship

[SougarLord]

 

Rarely does a concept emerge in the world as a production model that delivers on its promises of style and technological advancements. Such is the case with the Volkswagen XL1 model, which unveiled a new approach to hybrid transmissions and vehicle construction and achieved almost magical efficiency numbers while being fun to drive.

 

The history of the XL1 dates back to 2002, when the then president of Volkswagen AG, Ferdinand Piëch, came to the company's annual meeting of shareholders in a prototype known only as "the 1-liter car". Having been kept under wraps until that trip, the 1-liter car was a two-seat spaceship, powered by a single-cylinder, naturally aspirated, direct injection diesel engine that was centrally located in front of the rear axle and paired Engine with a dual-clutch six-speed automatic transmission. The 300cc engine produced just 8.5 horsepower, but combined with its 640-pound weight and unheard-of coefficient of drag of 0.159, the car managed to run for 100 kilometers on one liter of fuel (0.99 liters to be exact ). Between its technological achievements, aerodynamic shape, tandem seats and gull-wing doors, the 1-liter car was like looking to the future.

 

The future evolved at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show with the unveiling of the L1 concept. Modestly larger and heavier, the L1 was powered by a new 800cc two-cylinder direct injection 24hp TDI® engine. It also featured a new hybrid-electric system, which delivered a 40 percent increase in torque and a few miles of electric range. The L1 concept could generate 189 miles per gallon with a range of up to 416 miles. With the design language more in tune with the contemporary Volkswagen lineup, it seemed like a production model might be in the works.

 

Two years later, at the 2011 Qatar Motor Show, Volkswagen introduced the XL1 model, the most advanced 1-liter car to date. The XL1's 800cc two-cylinder TDI engine developed 48 hp, while the electric motor jumped from 14 to 27 hp, powered by a 5.5 kWh lithium battery. This new powertrain helped the XL1 reach 313 miles per gallon in the European combined test cycle, despite a weight gain to 1,752 pounds, and it was able to travel 31 miles on electricity alone. The most obvious change came on the outside though: the XL1 was wider and a bit more conventional than its predecessors, though it still couldn't be confused with anything else on the road.

 

The seats were now staggered and offset from each other within a carbon fiber center monocoque, made through a more cost-effective resin transfer molding process that brought the XL1 closer to mass production. The entire monohull weighed just 197 pounds and weight was saved everywhere else possible. With its magnesium wheels and an extremely low coefficient of drag of 0.19, the XL1 could navigate 60 mph using just over 8 horsepower.

 

Behind the wheel, the XL1 proved that "efficient" doesn't have to mean "boring" too. Its ultra-aerodynamic shape meant that at highway speeds, a light touch on the gas pedal was all that was needed to kick-start the power. The lack of power steering gave the wheel a heavy but communicative feel, offering a tactile response that many modern vehicles lack. The cabin has a spartan design, but is well equipped; all necessary controls are within easy reach of the driver, including air conditioning and GPS. One thing the XL1 was never lacking in was attention: At city speeds, running almost silently on all-electric power, it would turn every passing head. The XL1 was a truly unique driving experience.

 

The XL1's unique materials and technology made it too expensive for high-volume production; only 250 cars were made, 200 of which were sold to the public in Europe. They are rarely available for sale, and when they do, the vehicles are priced close to their original tag of € 111,000 (or around $ 150,000 at the time). Technology may never have been able to make the XL1 an option for the general public, but the car remains an unparalleled automotive achievement.