Volkswagen 1-litre car
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox electric vehicle
The Volkswagen XL1 (VW 1-litre) is a two-person limited production diesel-powered plug-in hybrid produced by Volkswagen. The XL1 car was designed to be able to travel 100 km on 1 litre of diesel (Template:Convert), with a fully charged battery, while being both roadworthy and practical.<ref name=pressrelease>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Without using electric, the XL can travel 100 km on 2 litres of diesel.<ref name=autoexpress/> To achieve such economy, it was produced with lightweight materials, a streamlined body and an engine and transmission designed and tuned for economy. The concept car was modified first in 2009 as the L1<ref name="gas2.org">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and again in 2011 as the XL1.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
A limited production of 250 units began by mid 2013 and pricing started at Template:Euro (~ Template:GBP). The Volkswagen XL1 plug-in diesel-electric hybrid was available only in Europe and its 5.5 kWh lithium-ion battery delivered an all-electric range of Template:Convert,<ref name=1stDelivery/> had a fuel economy of Template:Convert under the NEDC cycle and produced emissions of 21 g/km of Template:CO2.<ref name=PriceVWXL1/> The XL1 was released to retail customers in Germany in June 2014.<ref name=1stDelivery>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
History
2002 VW 1-litre model
The prototype VW 1-litre concept car was shown to the public in April 2002 when Ferdinand Piëch, then chairman of the board of management, drove the concept between Wolfsburg and Hamburg as part of the Volkswagen annual meeting of stockholders.
For aerodynamics, the car seats two in tandem, rather than side-by-side. There are no rear view mirrors and it instead uses cameras and electronic displays. The rear wheels are close together to allow a streamlined body. The total aerodynamic drag is minimal because both the drag coefficient and frontal area are small (see drag equation). The drag coefficient (Cd) is 0.159,<ref name="pressrelease"/> compared to 0.30 - 0.40 for typical cars.
The external dimensions of the car are Template:Convert long, Template:Convert wide and Template:Convert tall. There is Template:Convert of storage space. The car features an aircraft-style canopy, flat wheel covers and an underbelly cover to smooth the airflow. The engine cooling vents open only as needed.
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For light weight, the car uses an unpainted carbon fibre skin over a magnesium-alloy subframe. Individual components have been designed to be low weight, including engine, transmission, suspension, wheels (carbon fibre), brakes (aluminium), hubs (titanium), bearings (ceramic), interior, and so on. Empty vehicle weight is Template:Convert.
The body and frame are designed with crush/crumple zones and roll-over protection, and the tandem seating means large side crush zones. Volkswagen claims protection comparable to a GT racing car. The car has anti-lock brakes, airbags with pressure sensors, and stability control.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The engine is a one-cylinder Template:Convert diesel producing just Template:Convert. It drives through a six-speed transmission that combines stick-shift mechanics, weight, and drive efficiency with automatic convenience and efficiency controls. There is no clutch pedal. The gear selection (forwards, reverse or neutral) is made using a switch on the right-hand side of the cockpit. The engine is switched off automatically during deceleration and stops, and auto-restarted when the acceleration pedal is pressed.
According to Volkswagen, the vehicle consumes Template:Convert, giving it a Template:Convert driving range on one tank of fuel.
At the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show senior VW exec Ferdinand Piëch claimed the car would be available by the end of the decade.<ref name="motorauthority.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Car magazine 30 June 2008">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Around June 2008 car magazines were reporting a powerplant change to a two-cylinder diesel-electric hybrid. Volkswagen only expected the car to be a limited production run, and prices were expected by one industry insider to be between €20,000 and €30,000.<ref name="motorauthority.com"/><ref name="Car magazine 30 June 2008"/>
2009 VW L1 model
The second Volkswagen 1-litre car, named L1, was first shown to the public at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Limited production of the VW L1 was expected to start in 2013 but with the announcement of the XL1 in 2011 this was considered unlikely.<ref name="autoguide">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The L1 continues the two-seater tandem concept first shown in the 2002 1-litre concept. It has a curb weight of Template:Convert, with a low coefficient of drag of 0.195. It is Template:Convert in length, Template:Convert tall and Template:Convert wide. Frontal area is Template:Cvt, giving a drag area (CdA) of Template:Cvt.
It uses one half of a 1.6-litre TDI engine in a hybrid installation. The 800 cm3, twin-cylinder, common-rail turbodiesel is joined by a Template:Convert electric motor and has a Template:CO2 emission 39 g/km. The engine operates in two modes: "eco" mode, giving Template:Convert, and "sport" mode giving Template:Convert. The electric motor provides extra acceleration and can power the L1 on its own for short distances.<ref name=XL1specs>Template:Cite news</ref> Volkswagen claimed the L1 can achieve a top speed of Template:Cvt, with Template:Cvt acceleration in 14.3 s.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2011 VW XL1 model
The XL1 is the third iteration of the Volkswagen 1-litre car, unveiled at the 2011 Qatar Motor Show. The diesel plug-in hybrid prototype is branded as a "Super Efficient Vehicle" (SEV).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
According to Volkswagen, the XL1 can achieve a combined fuel consumption of Template:Convert<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Template:CO2 emissions of 24 g/km. Like the L1, the XL1 uses a two-cylinder turbo-diesel. Displacing Template:Cvt, it is rated at Template:Cvt and Template:Cvt of torque and transmits power to the rear wheels through a seven-speed DSG transmission. The electric motor pitches in with Template:Cvt and Template:Cvt of torque, and can work in parallel with the diesel or drive the car independent of it. Fully charged, the XL1 can travel up to Template:Convert on electric power.
The XL1 has a curb weight of Template:Convert, and a Template:Cd (a similar drag coefficient to the General Motors EV1 electric car). Frontal area is 1.5 m2 giving a Template:CdA m2.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Just 23.2% of the car (Template:Convert) is made out of either steel or iron; the drivetrain weighs Template:Convert. The XL1's length and width are similar to the Volkswagen Polo, with a length of Template:Convert and width of Template:Convert. However, the car is much lower with a height of only Template:Convert, and has a coupe-like roofline, reducing interior volume. The design incorporates butterfly doors, with the interior seating layout using a staggered side-by-side arrangement similar to a Smart Fortwo, rather than the previous versions' tandem seating.
Performance credentials include a governed top speed of Template:Convert, with acceleration to Template:Convert in 11.9 seconds.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Production version
In February 2012, Volkswagen confirmed that it would build a limited series of XL1s starting in 2013.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The production version of the plug-in diesel-electric hybrid was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.<ref name=XL1>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
As with the 2011 concept XL1, it is powered by an 800 cm3 two-cylinder diesel engine with Template:Cvt and a Template:Cvt electric motor. The combined power output is Template:Cvt and torque is Template:Cvt.<ref name=Johan>Template:Cite AV mediaTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The wheels are fitted with low rolling resistance tyres sized 115/80 R15 (front) and 145/55 R16 (rear).<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> The drag coefficient has increased slightly from 0.186 to 0.189.<ref name=autoexpress>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The production version delivers an all-electric range of Template:Convert,<ref name=XL1/><ref name=Johan/> in addition to a 10-litre fuel tank<ref name=autoexpress/> which allows for over Template:Convert of real-life driving until the car needs to be refueled.<ref name=autoexpress/>
In February 2013, Volkswagen announced that it expected the XL1 to achieve a fuel consumption of Template:Convert and emissions of 21 g/km of Template:CO2. The test cycle allows for a re-charge of the battery every Template:Convert which results in a high mpg value.
Using diesel alone the car is capable of up to Template:Convert.<ref name=autoexpress/> One reviewer found that, in real-life traffic, with air conditioning on and without attempts at hypermiling, the car is able to reliably achieve Template:Convert.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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Frontal view of the 2013 production XL1
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Rear view of the 2013 production XL1
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Volkswagen XL1 cockpit 2013 Tokyo Motor Show
Production and sales
Production began by mid 2013 and was limited to 250 units. A total of 50 units had been built by early September 2013, and the remaining 200 XL1s were scheduled to be built in the second quarter of 2014. Prices started at Template:Euro. The XL1 was available in Europe only.<ref name=PriceVWXL1>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Retail deliveries began in Germany in June 2014.<ref name=1stDelivery/>
Of the 250 units to be produced, 200 were to be sold to retail customers. Volkswagen opened a registration process for interested customers that closed on 18 October 2013. Because more than 200 potential buyers registered, a drawing was conducted to select the customers with a purchase option for the available cars. They were offered a purchase contract and after the payment of a Template:Euro deposit, the purchase agreement for an XL1 was binding.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Reception
The Volkswagen XL1 was selected in February 2014 as one of the top five finalists for the 2014 World Car of the Year.
See also
- Electric car use by country
- Plug-in electric vehicle
- Plug-in hybrid
- List of modern production plug-in electric vehicles
References
External links
- Volkswagen press release, 15 April 2002, "The 1-litre car" (archived) Template:Webarchive
- Volkswagen press release, 15 September 2009, E-Up! and L1 (archived) Template:Webarchive
- Official Volkswagen 1-Litre car press release
- Official Volkswagen L1 press release
- Official Volkswagen XL1 press release
- Supercars 1-litre report
Template:VW Template:Volkswagen (Europe) timeline 1980 to date