Volkswagen XL1... Winter vid post #121

[YSSMAN]

VW L1 Shows Up... Production Inches Closer to Reality?

LINK TO AUTOBLOG

There is no way that Volkswagen can prove their claim that the new 1-liter concept vehicle, the L1, is truly "the most fuel-efficient automobile in the world," but that isn't stopping them from using the phrase to describe the second version of a car that has been making the rounds since 2002. The new 1-liter car – so named because it burns 1.38 liters of diesel per 100 km (rounding down from 1.38 to 1 is acceptable, right?) – that will be on display in Frankfurt features a carbon fiber/plastic body and weighs just 380 kilograms.

The L1's CO2 emissions are crazy low – just 36 grams per kilometer – from a hybrid TDI and 10 kW electric motor powerplant. The 0.8-liter TDI unit was derived from the 1.6 TDI that is making its debut in Frankfurt in the new Golf BlueMotion and Passat BlueMotion. Top speed is 100 mph. The tandem seats are accessible from a hinged roof cover. The L1 has two driving modes – eco and sport – and, of course, features Auto Start-Stop. What does all this get you? An astonishing 170 mpg (U.S.).

If the car looks a bit slippery to you, you're not alone. The L1 has a Cd 0.195. While this concept retains some of the fanciful design and joy of the 2002 model, VW is calling the L1 "revolutionary yet close to production readiness" and is talking about 2013 as a possible production date. Want one?

Nice. In reference to my previous post, they're still looking at doing the Up! too (Check out the E-Up! Concept), and that continues to seem like a more-practical option. Still, this 1L Concept continues to entice me. I like the look, and I love the idea of the car. If it handles well, it could be something fun to drive.

 

[Frizbe]

VW L1 Shows Up... Production Inches Closer to Reality?

Blah Blah Blah

I love it I would rock that in a heartbeat. I was planning on buying a TDi and seeing how many MPG friendly mods I could get but damn this just makes me really glad they offer leasing as a option on new cars.

 

[Philly]

Wow, that thing is borderline motorcycle status, I think.

It's pretty cool, and pretty boldly states VW's stand when it comes to green cars, and how they're pretty different from everyone else. Way to go, VW! 👍

But the styling looks a little old. That face seems more Phaeton related, and that isn't exactly the newest of VWs cars.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Wouldn't want to get a flat on that rear tyre...

 

[homeforsummer]

Thanks for the update, Brad 👍 I've not been on the net for a few days otherwise I would have posted this myself.

That concept looks cool though, possibly even better than the original one-off.

I'd definitely have one.

Wouldn't want to get a flat on that rear tyre...

That's okay, it has another one

(It's a four-wheeler)

 

[Jim Prower]

Think he was talking of the wheel cover, of which I see an external latch.

Will they be making wider suspension components? I could put the wheels out about a foot and a half each side. and swap in a bike engine.

 

[ExigeEvan]

That's okay, it has another one

(It's a four-wheeler)

I've been trying to work that out!

The tanden seating and the slight narrowing towards the back honestly had me semi-convinced it was a 3-wheeler but I could find nothing in any of the descriptions stating it was.

 

[YSSMAN]

Volvo had a concept like this a while back too, and I keep wondering if more companies are going to go for it. Still, I've yet to see any of the "in the flesh" pics of the car yet. The E-Up! looks a little wonky in person, so now I'd be leaning more toward this.

 

[JCE]

How did I miss this thread the 1st time? Brilliant little car. I'd rock that for the daily commute no question.

 

[homeforsummer]

Volkswagen XL1: High-Tech, Super Efficient, 261 mpg​

For those of you who've not already seen, Volkswagen have previewed another version of their "1 litre" car at the Qatar Motor Show. It's now wider and heavier than the previous concepts, but it's even more economical than the original 1-Litre concept thanks to using range-extending technology similar to the Chevrolet Volt.

Styling is very similar to the last concept, but feedback from that model prompted VW to make the car wider, give it gullwing doors (rather than the single-sided cockpit hatch the other cars had), side-by-side rather than tandem seating, and the reasoning behind the weight increase is that VW have made this one virtually production ready.

It's not destined for full scale production but VW are thinking of doing a limited run. No word on pricing though...

The economy? Roughly 260 mpg U.S, 300 mpg imperial, or 0.9 litres per 100km.

Pics:

Full article at allcartech.com

And yes, I'd still have one.

 

[Azuremen]

I'll stick with whatever BMW produces from Efficient Dynamics, rather than the demented off spring of an old Insight and I, Robot Audis.

 

[homeforsummer]

Suspect it might be a while before EfficientDynamics BMWs are reaching 100mpg though, let alone 200, 300 mpg.

Horses for courses.

 

[sumbrownkid]

If my brother's history of VW ownership can apply to other VWs, I wonder how far I can go in this before the windows don't work, or the headlights don't turn on, or the wipers don't move, or....

 

[homeforsummer]

Given that it's not built in the Mexico plant like the majority of U.S. market VWs, probably a reasonable distance.

 

[sems4arsenal]

It's not half bad looking (at the front that is)Subtle interior too.

 

[blaaah]

If my brother's history of VW ownership can apply to other VWs, I wonder how far I can go in this before the windows don't work, or the headlights don't turn on, or the wipers don't move, or....

The same thing happens to other brands as well though don't they?

 

[Azuremen]

The same thing happens to other brands as well though don't they?

VW is notorious for electrical problems, especially in North America. I've yet to be in a VW over 6 months old that hasn't had something fail from a window switch to a mysterious CEL, etc.

 

[niky]

Now it's tandem?

That's some serious concept they've got there... a two seater that does 100 km/l, with the weatherproofing of a full car... that's really something.

If they can produce it in the $30k range, it could possibly sell. Possibly.

 

[Hugo Boss]

If they can produce it in the $30k range, it could possibly sell. Possibly.

Not likely, the car has a carbon monocoque frame. If they are going to produce it, it will be in little numbers and simply to show that VAG is one of the most sophisticated car manufacturers. Pure marketing.

I'd still fancy one for commuting though if VW would bring this car on the market around 2013. To me it looks more like a design object than a practical car, I love it!

 

[Hun200kmh]

VW is notorious for electrical problems, especially in North America. I've yet to be in a VW over 6 months old that hasn't had something fail from a window switch to a mysterious CEL, etc.

That's very odd. In Europe (well, at least Portugal) VW don't have that dubious fame. Quite the contrary.

 

[blaaah]

VW is notorious for electrical problems, especially in North America. I've yet to be in a VW over 6 months old that hasn't had something fail from a window switch to a mysterious CEL, etc.

Well I kind of agree that applies in the UK too where I am , I own a VW Lupo and it has electrical problems. But I think other brands have electrical faults too.
..................

Proper news about the concept is that the running gear is being put into production in the new Lupo, termed as a blue-e-motion. 47bhp engine with 26bhp electrical boost. 90mpg, the reason the mpg is not so good is because it's a city car with average aerodynamics and it's 300kgs heavier made of normal materials/design. The Lupo is coming by 2013. I would expect the cheaper ones to be around £8,000.

Just goes to show 300mpg to 90mpg just because of shape and weight. Engines don't have much of a say in overall efficiency of cars when you see it like that.

 

[homeforsummer]

Now it's tandem?

Nope, now it's not tandem. The previous concepts were tandem (think tandem bicycle - means one behind the other), this one has vaguely side-by-side seating, though it's staggered so apparently it feels quite roomy.

Proper news about the concept is that the running gear is being put into production in the new Lupo, termed as a blue-e-motion. 47bhp engine with 26bhp electrical boost. 90mpg, the reason the mpg is not so good is because it's a city car with average aerodynamics and it's 300kgs heavier made of normal materials/design. The Lupo is coming by 2013. I would expect the cheaper ones to be around £8,000.

Just goes to show 300mpg to 90mpg just because of shape and weight. Engines don't have much of a say in overall efficiency of cars when you see it like that.

Yup, VW have just announced this. The drop in fuel consumption isn't totally due to the aerodynamics and weight (though a lot of it is to do with that) - the other factor is that the Up (as the car you're referring to as the Lupo will be known) won't be able to drive on EV power alone, unlike the XL1. The Up will just be a regular hybrid, albeit a diesel one.

 

[blaaah]

I'm pretty sure the Up will become Lupo, just like the Iroc became the Scirocco.
The Up development has small battery to save on cost and weight, just enough to give it a boost.

 

[Eric.]

Suspect it might be a while before EfficientDynamics BMWs are reaching 100mpg though, let alone 200, 300 mpg.

Horses for courses.

How about an actual mileage rating? Or are we all going to believe we just made the step from cars that get 50mpg at best to 5x that, with no steps in between?

 

[homeforsummer]

How about an actual mileage rating? Or are we all going to believe we just made the step from cars that get 50mpg at best to 5x that, with no steps in between?

Well if you consider the technology involved it's not so much of a leap, really. Especially since VW have running models of both the original 1L and the XL1 - they aren't just drawing board claims.

It's a relatively lightweight, very streamlined car on low rolling resistance tyres, with an 800cc, twin cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, a 7-speed DSG gearbox and an electric motor and batteries allowing it to run entirely in EV mode and providing assistance and brake regeneration.

Which part of that doesn't suggest incredible efficiency to you?

Just to expand on Volkswagen's figures too, they claim that without any input at all from the electric motor, it will do 124mpg. I'm assuming this figure is in imperial gallons (as is the headline 300mpg figure), so it's about 103mpg US. Which still isn't too bad...

Thanks to the aero and efficient engine, the car only needs 8bhp to maintain a steady 60mph cruise. So again, it's hardly going to be using much fuel cruising along.

Might be worth pointing out too that the "50mpg at best" you refer to is only what the most economical models in the States can manage, and even then only a very few can do that. Here in Europe that 50mpg (or 60mpg imperial) covers a pretty big list of cars. EfficientDynamics 3-Series included which does almost 60mpg US. The diesel smart I tested last year did 60mpg (US) with very little effort indeed and smart claim 71mpg (US) for that model.

200+ mpg certainly isn't beyond the realms of possibility given the right technology.

 

[Kiddir420]

This car will sell like hot cakes in the UK, providing its priced <25k. I would love one because I only drive for myself, and with fuel prices in UK, would make perfect sense (cheap insurance too)

Cars will be amazing in the upcoming 5 years in terms of efficiency, the BMW 320ED is proving that already. Im looking forward to seeing Ferrari's and Lambo's achieve 35mpg

 

[Eric.]

Well if you consider the technology involved it's not so much of a leap, really. Especially since VW have running models of both the original 1L and the XL1 - they aren't just drawing board claims.

It's a relatively lightweight, very streamlined car on low rolling resistance tyres, with an 800cc, twin cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, a 7-speed DSG gearbox and an electric motor and batteries allowing it to run entirely in EV mode and providing assistance and brake regeneration.

Which part of that doesn't suggest incredible efficiency to you?

Just to expand on Volkswagen's figures too, they claim that without any input at all from the electric motor, it will do 124mpg. I'm assuming this figure is in imperial gallons (as is the headline 300mpg figure), so it's about 103mpg US. Which still isn't too bad...

Thanks to the aero and efficient engine, the car only needs 8bhp to maintain a steady 60mph cruise. So again, it's hardly going to be using much fuel cruising along.

Might be worth pointing out too that the "50mpg at best" you refer to is only what the most economical models in the States can manage, and even then only a very few can do that. Here in Europe that 50mpg (or 60mpg imperial) covers a pretty big list of cars. EfficientDynamics 3-Series included which does almost 60mpg US. The diesel smart I tested last year did 60mpg (US) with very little effort indeed and smart claim 71mpg (US) for that model.

200+ mpg certainly isn't beyond the realms of possibility given the right technology.

See, there they go using the really misleading claims of 250+ miles per gallon.

Lets say you have a "hybrid" (or whatever you really want to consider these things) that can travel 100 miles on its battery. But you travel just to the point where the ICE burns a tiny bit of fuel. 1/100th of a gallon, perhaps.

You've travelled 100.01 miles or something, burned .001 gallons. 100.05/.001 = 100,010mpg! Z0MG INCREDIBLE!


And utterly worthless.


Cars like this need a new rating system so the hype can be realistic. List a full electric range that's maybe 70% of what it could do in a best case scenario, while also giving a typical mpg rating while the engine is in use (which I guess is either in a range-extending or battery-charging mode?).

 

[Azuremen]

Well I kind of agree that applies in the UK too where I am , I own a VW Lupo and it has electrical problems. But I think other brands have electrical faults too.

Not anywhere near the same degree. Check consumer reports for VWs in North America compared to other cars. I've honestly never seen anything with as many issues, aside old Jaguars.

 

[blaaah]

See, there they go using the really misleading claims of 250+ miles per gallon.

Lets say you have a "hybrid" (or whatever you really want to consider these things) that can travel 100 miles on its battery. But you travel just to the point where the ICE burns a tiny bit of fuel. 1/100th of a gallon, perhaps.

You've travelled 100.01 miles or something, burned .001 gallons. 100.05/.001 = 100,010mpg! Z0MG INCREDIBLE!


And utterly worthless.


Cars like this need a new rating system so the hype can be realistic. List a full electric range that's maybe 70% of what it could do in a best case scenario, while also giving a typical mpg rating while the engine is in use (which I guess is either in a range-extending or battery-charging mode?).

I think there already is an agreed measure for economy on these new cars. In the same way I have seen battery only cars that don't even have an engine are given an mpg figure.

 

[Jim Prower]

I can still imagine doing some crazy things regarding wheels going outside the body and installing...let's say...A BMW K1300 powerplant. Juuust to keep it German.