Volkswagen has recently absorbed a lot of criticism from environmentalists. Thats why we have the green side, the Volkswagen XL1, a two-seat sports car. It took two years, since it was introduced as a concept in Qatar, to see the light.
The Volkswagen XL1 features a plug-in hybrid powertrain whose heart is a diesel engine of 800-cc two-cylinder engine that generates 48 horsepower produced. Besides an electric motor that generates 27hp. The two combine to produce a maximum output of 69 horsepower and peak torque of 103 lb-ft.
The power is then sent to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Energy is stored in a fuel tank of 2.6-gallon and a lithium-ion battery whose capacity has not yet been revealed. The electric car has a range of up to 31 miles.
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| Volkswagen XL1 plug-in hybrid |
By their nature extremely economical, Volkswagen XL1 performance seems acceptable. Volkswagen says that acceleration from zero to 100 kph is 12.7 seconds, and top speed is 160 kph governed. The main reason which generates much performance is its low weight. A carbon fiber monocoque that gives a total weight of just 795 kilograms.
The drag coefficient of the body is claimed to be 0.189. The Volkswagen XL1 is a very compact machine at 45.4 inches high, 65.6 inches wide and 153.1 inches long. VW said that his two-seater requires just 8.3 horsepower at cruising speed of 100 kph.
Instead of conventional mirrors, the car is equipped with cameras that turn their signal to two monitors placed on the doors. Inside, the Volkswagen XL1 resembles a sports car with a fairly conventional design and a significant amount of visible carbon fiber. The sports system continues in the braking system, carbon ceramic discs ultra light. 15 inch rims 115/80 in the front and ring 16 with 145/55 at the rear. The four rings are made of forged magnesium.
50 handmade Volkswagen XL1 will -- on German motorways during the first half of 2013. After the initial production phase, could be another XL1 car lot for a wider audience. However, there are no plans for a U.S. launch at this time. Perhaps most important is that much of the Volkswagen XL1 technology could be applied in other Volkswagen conventional lines.
