Monday, February 25, 2013

Volkswagen to Unveil 261 M.P.G.e. Production Car

Volkswagen XL1 two-seater sports car.
VW/European Pressphoto Agency Volkswagen XL1 two-seater sports car.
Volkswagen says it plans to unveil its 261-miles-per-gallon XL1 plug-in hybrid, a two-seat sports machine that it will begin offering for sale this year, at the Geneva auto show on March 5.
The automaker, since at least 2002, has been experimenting with the idea of a vehicle capable of using only one liter or less of fuel to travel 100 kilometers. That would be the fuel economy equivalent of about 235 m.p.g., the company said; in tests, the XL1 has managed to achieve even better numbers than the original goals.
“The 261 m.p.g. fuel consumption figure is a record that has not been achieved by any other vehicle to date,” the company announced in press materials on Thursday, “showing that Volkswagen is redefining what is technically feasible in the automotive industry.”
Concept versions of the car, called the L1, have been shown in the last decade as a tandem two-seater. With the XL1, a concept version of which appeared in 2011, the cockpit has been widened to allow driver and passenger to sit more or less side by side.
The production version, Volkswagen says, still is able to achieve a low 0.189 drag coefficient, despite its wider body. Other aerodynamic aids include fully covered rear wheels and rearview mirrors that are integrated into the door panels. It has a curb weight of 1,753 pounds. The body is made principally of plastic, with an underlying aluminum frame.
Its powertrain is comprised of an 800-cc 2-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, with an output of 47 horsepower, which works with a 27-horsepower electric motor and a lithium-ion battery. The vehicle can travel up to 31 miles on electric power. Under full power, VW says the XL1 will accelerate to 60 m.p.h. in about 12.7 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 99 m.p.h.
VW says it will hand build the XL1 at its plant in Osnabrück, Germany, where the Porsche Boxster and VW Golf convertible are also built. After an initial production run of 50 vehicles, VW says it will adjust further production plans according to demand.