Volkswagen XL1 Plug-In Hybrid Concept Unveiled in Qatar

Volkswagen today unveiled the XL1 super-efficient concept car – the third evolutionary stage of the firm’s ‘1-liter car ‘strategy.

Despite the very high levels of efficiency, developers in XL1 concept designed a body layout that offers greater everyday practicality, incorporating side by side seating rather than the tandem arrangement seen in both the first 1-liter car presented in 2002 and the L1 presented in 2009.

The VW XL1 Concept combines a 0.8-liter TDI engine, 20 kW electric motor, lithium-ion battery pack and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to achieve an astonishing 0.9L/100 km (261mpg US or 313 mpg UK), while emitting just 24 g/km of CO2. The included plug-in system, along with the XL1′s low drag (Cd 0.186) and extensive use of lightweight materials has the potential to make the concept the most efficient vehicle to ever grace public roads.

The battery can be charged from a conventional household electric outlet. Naturally, battery regeneration is also employed to recover energy while slowing down and store as much of it as possible in the battery for re-use. In this case, the electric motor acts as an electric generator.

Despite the very high levels of efficiency, developers were able to design a body layout that offers greater everyday practicality, incorporating side by side seating rather than the tandem arrangement seen in both the first 1-liter car presented in 2002 and the L1 presented in 2009.

In the new Volkswagen XL1, wing doors make it easier to enter and exit the car. Further progress has been made by manufacturing body parts from carbon fiber reinforced polymer parts (CFRP), a technique used in Formula 1 car construction.

Although the XL1 is still very much a concept, its unveiling marks the next step towards the birth of a new class of Super Efficient Vehicles.

The new Volkswagen XL1 super-efficient plug-in hybrid concept was unveiled on the eve of the Qatar Motor Show.