Be it natural catastrophes or financial disasters, the shape of our world changes in a blink of an eye. To prepare for the future, automakers can no longer afford to introduce mildly evolved automobiles -fortune favors the companies that dare to dream and have the courage, and resources, to pursue truly groundbreaking innovations. As the parent company of impactful brands including Bugatti and Porsche, Volkswagen has been responsible for more development than most.
The production version of the highly anticipated Volkswagen XL1 diesel-electric plug-in hybrid vehicle made its debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. At first glance, the XL1 looks like a modest fuel-saver economy vehicle intended for affordable and basic transportation for young professionals and college students. However, the XL1 is in fact a $100,000 technical tour-de-force.
Performance -wise, the XL1 makes do with just 47 hp from a turbo-diesel two cylinder engine and 27 hp from an electric motor. The powerplants are mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. While the power output may sound pathetic for 2013, the XL1 is capable of accelerating from 0-to-60 mph in just over 12 seconds. In addition, Volkswagen engineers over-compensated elsewhere to make the XL1 the ultimate hybrid ever built.
Thanks to a combination of composite and lightweight materials, the Volkswagen XL1 boasts a curb weight of just 1,750, making it even lighter than the iconic original Lotus Elan British roadster. What's more, the XL1's bland exterior styling in fact the result of Volkswagen's uncompromised pursuit for a 0.186 drag coefficient.
Volkswagen claims the XL1 is capable of a fuel economy figure of a remarkable 313 mpg.
Be sure to check out the Volkswagen XL1 in the gallery below.
