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Friday, February 22, 2013
The Volkswagen Group has absorbed a lot of flak from the environmentally minded for its alleged sins against Mother Earth. Those charges are exemplified by its lineup of ultra-luxurious and ultra-thirsty Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini offerings, as well as the heavy, powerful, and—for now—not-for-American-consumption Phaeton. But there is a decidedly green side to the company, the latest proof of which is the XL1, a low-slung two-seater with sports-car proportions that debuts at this year’s Geneva auto show.
The XL1 features a plug-in hybrid powertrain whose heart is an 800-cc two-cylinder diesel engine producing 48 horsepower. That mill is coupled to a 27-hp electric motor, the pair combining to produce maximum output of 69 horsepower and max torque of 103 lb-ft. Power is then routed to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Energy is stored in a 2.6-gallon fuel tank and a lithium-ion battery pack—its capacity has yet to be revealed—mounted in front of the passenger cell. The car has an electric-only range of up to 31 miles.
Given its extremely economical nature, the XL1's performance seems acceptable. Volkswagen claims the sprint from zero to 62 mph takes 12.7 seconds, and top speed is a governed 100 mph. The central theme to VW’s extraordinary efficiency—as well as respectable performance— is extremely low weight. Thanks to a carbon-fiber monocoque and extensive use elsewhere of the lightweight but expensive woven material, as well as aluminum and magnesium, total weight is a mere 795 kilograms, or roughly 1750 pounds—impressive given the added weight that comes with a battery pack and an electric motor.
The drag coefficient of the sleek body is claimed to be 0.189. Under the skin, the passenger seat is moved slightly rearwards—not exactly side-by-side, but not a tandem configuration, either. The XL1 is an extremely compact machine at 45.4 inches tall, 65.6 inches wide, and 153.1 inches long. For the sake of reference, the Mazda Miata measures up at 3.6 inches taller than the XL1, 2.1 inches wider, and 4.2 inches longer. VW says its two-seater requires just 8.3 horsepower to cruise at 62 mph.
Instead of conventional side mirrors, the car is fitted with rearward-facing cameras feeding two door-panel-mounted monitors. Inside, the XL1 resembles a sports car, with a fairly conventional layout and a significant amount of visible carbon fiber. The sporty theme continues with the braking system, with VW fitting ultra-lightweight carbon-ceramic discs to handle stopping duties. Unlike a sports car, however, the XL1 rolls on 15-inch wheels shod with 115/80 rubber up front and 16-inchers fitted with 145/55 tires out back; all four wheels are made of forged magnesium.
Thanks to: Car and Driver
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